By

Andrew DeMarco

I had originally intended to post this Rosy Glow before the Christmas Holiday but circumstances beyond my control prevented me from doing so.

With Thanksgiving and the elections behind us, the Holiday Season is now in full swing. After hosting Thanksgiving this year, I have come to realize that the most important thing in this world are the 4Fs. What might you ask are the 4Fs? That is simple: Family, Friends, Fun and Food. That is why I am puzzled with people who will not sit down or even talk to members of their family because they have different opinions and political views. I guess they would prefer loneliness rather than being with loved ones. Why?  I have no idea.

These attitudes reminded me of the Holidays or just about every Sunday at my grandparents’ house. Every Sunday was usually a day filled with debate and discussion, usually the kids versus the adults, especially with Uncle Cappy leading the charge for the older generation. Topics such as the Vietnam War, politics, sports and religion were debated before dinner and needless to say at times they would get heated. Both sides felt that they were right and just and nothing would change our minds. When it got too heated, Great Uncle Joe would pull out his harmonica and start playing a tune and it would calm us all down at least temporarily. After the next course, the debates would start again and it would go on after every course amd in an Italian home there were many courses. These discussions did nothing to damper the holiday or our feelings for one another.

I learned some years later that Uncle Cappy actually agreed with us on some issues but he was just playing devil’s advocate. He also told me that he did it because he wanted us to form our own opinions as well as learn how to respect the opinions of others. I have come to realize that it was also being a part of a family and to be tolerant of all the varying opinions of family members. I am sure this played a part in us being a tight knit group.

One thing that I do know is that when I am with members of the family that have different opinions than myself, it will not keep us from enjoying our company and most importantly the 4Fs. I guess it was the way we were brought up that helped instill these beliefs in us. This is why it makes me wonder how anyone could allow another person’s opinions to keep them from enjoying the 4Fs especially at the holidays.

So, as we gather this Christmas, I know it will not matter what that relative sitting next to me might think politically, religiously or anything else because it will not keep me from enjoying Family, Friends, Fun and especially the Food. I am certain this will fill me with the Holiday Spirit and that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that….. Rosy Glow!

Regarding those circumstances beyond my control, well they only added more meaning to being with family. I got an early Christmas present this year, a Pacemaker and although I was home Christmas Day, unfortunately, I did not get to spend the day with family and missed out on the 4Fs. However, it made me realize how important it really is and those who don’t know this are missing out on that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow!

A belated

MERRY CHRISTMAS

&

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Recently, the Hayes family suffered the loss of one of our own, Steve Moor, Class of 1972. Steve was an extraordinary athlete as well as a scholar. One would say that he was the epitome of the “student athlete” a term which is used much too loosely today. He won first team All-City honors in his junior and senior year in both football as a quarterback and baseball as a catcher, in addition to honorable mention in basketball both years. He was also an honor student which is confirmed by his being in the honor classes his final two years at Hayes.

I remember Steve as not being the typical jock, no big man on campus here. Everyone was the same in his eyes. He was a humble guy with a smile for everyone. The only time I remember seeing him without that big smile was his yearbook picture where it looked like he was doing everything he could not to smile. When I was working in White Plains, I would see Steve from time to time and I was always greeted with a handshake and left with a hug. When we talked it was like we had just seen one another the other day.

Steve’s lifelong friend and rival Bill Hill (Mount St. Michael class of ’72) said it best in his eulogy of Steve:

“What is the definition of a real man? ….be on your guard, stand firm in faith, be a man of courage, be strong and do everything in love. This is the perfect personification of a man name Steve Moor.”

He went on to say:

“I can go on and list all the great athletic achievements he accomplished but why waste the time. We all know what an unbelievable talent he was.”

I have to agree with Bill, it is much more important to discuss the man he was and had become. Just reading Steve’s obituary tells this story.  A loving husband and a doting, caring and loving father. Just as important, he became a pillar of his church and community. I have to say I would not have expected anything less from Steve.

https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/ncadvertiser/name/stephen-moor-obituary?id=55414916

My friend’s son-in-law who worked with Steve at Combe upon hearing about his passing sent me this ditty:

“Steve was a great person, always nice and made you feel he was an old friend. Here is a story about him I thought you would enjoy.”

“Steve attended the NACDS meeting in San Diego.  Combe had former NFL Quarterback Joe Theismann at Combe’s booth signing footballs (JFM spokesperson). At the lunch break, as the massive convention center started to empty, Steve and Joe started tossing a football back and forth. The two QBs started to attract a crowd and Joe started to escalate the passes. He put some heat on one showing off his NFL arm. Steve caught it and with just a flick of his wrist returned the football back to Joe with some of his own heat. The ball went through Joe’s hands and smacked him in the face.  Quite the athlete! God Bless Steve and his family.”

He might not have been the most famous person or greatest athlete who graduated from Cardinal Hayes but I am most certain that anyone who met Steve during his lifetime would say he was the most memorable. Knowing this and having the privilege of calling him my friend gives me that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that …..Rosy Glow!

By

Andrew DeMarco

The past few years during February, which is Black History Month, I have written about lesser-known African Americans. In keeping with this tradition, I would like to tell you the story of Eunice Hunton Carter.
Eunice was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1899 to college educated parents which was unusual at that time. Her father William A. Hunton Sr. was the founder of the black division of the Y.M.C.A. and her mother Addie Hunton was a social worker. In fact, her paternal grandfather purchased his freedom from slavery just before the beginning of the Civil War. Her brother W. Alphaeus Hunton Jr. was also an author and activist involved with the Council of African Affairs. In 1906 the family moved from Atlanta to Brooklyn, New York where they both attended local schools. In 1921 she graduated from Smith College with a Bachelors degree and at the same time a Masters in social work. She worked briefly as a social worker but then decided to study law. In 1932 her career took a turn to the trailblazing path, when she became the first African American woman to receive a law degree from Fordham University. But this was just the beginning of many firsts for Eunice. In 1935 she became the first black woman to serve as Assistant District Attorney in New York state.
It was while serving as an A.D.A. that she once again blazed new trails. She was Robert Kennedy of the 60’s and Rudy Giuliani of the 80’s in mob busting before either of them even dreamed of it. Until Eunice Carter came along, most organized crime figures had been prosecuted and brought to justice through tax evasion laws, but Eunice found a different way. She determined that Charles ‘’Lucky” Luciano was involved in prostitution and put together a massive prostitution racketeering case that implicated Luciano. She then convinced District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey to prosecute the case. Luciano was convicted and after serving time in prison he was deported back to Italy. Although Eunice Carter did not play a prominent role during the trial, Dewey publicly acknowledged her contributions. The case was a steppingstone for Dewey’s career and Eunice Carter became an advisor and confidant to Dewey. Eunice Carter would later become active with the U.N., serving on committees that advocated for the improvement of women’s rights.
So, this is the story of an African American woman who bucked the times and went against the odds and made a difference and blazed new trails for all women. It was because of her success that public attorneys who came later, like RFK and Rudy Giuliani took the steps they did in fighting organized crime. So for this year’s Black History Month, Eunice Carter’s life and achievements should fill us all with pride and that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow!

For more information regarding the Luciano case you can go to:
https://www.biography.com/crime/eunice-hunton-carter-lucky-luciano

By

Andrew DeMarco

With the holiday season now over, I would like to tell you all about the best gift I received this past Christmas. Well, it was actually a gift I gave but what I got in return by giving this gift was immeasurable.

This story begins over 25 years ago when my niece Elaina and I would set up the train set and Christmas Village for the holidays. At that time, I gave her a simple toy. Well, this year while decorating the house for Christmas I came across this toy. Elaina is now engaged and before I go any further, I want to wish her and Scott all the love, health and happiness they can find. We eventually stopped putting up the trains but Elaina and I kept up the tradition of setting up the Christmas Village.  Now back to my story. I thought I would “re-gift” this gift that I gave her 25 years ago, so I wrapped it and put it in the bag with Elaina’s other presents.

On Christmas Day when it was Elaina’s turn to open her presents, she reached into the bag and as luck would have it this re-gift was the first one she pulled out. When she finally unwrapped it her expression was priceless and she exclaimed, “my train whistle.” As she clutched the whistle, all her other gifts did not seem to matter and then she began to blow it in Scott’s ear, for which he thanked me. Knowing my niece, she will probably use it any time she has to get Scott’s attention.

This was just the beginning because this re-gift just kept on giving. It opened a flood of memories and we all had those “do you remember moments” about the train set and all the past holidays. More importantly, it was also the memories Elaina had with her Pop-Pop and Nanny and the train set. I seemed to remember that my mother didn’t appreciate Elaina constantly blowing that whistle but my father enjoyed it because it was annoying my mother. The bottom line was that they really didn’t care because we all had fun and it meant that the family was together.

So, there you have it, a simple wooden toy given to my niece 25 years ago and now one I gave to her again years later led to the best present I received because of the memories that it brought to me and the rest of us. I know it filled us all with the Holiday Spirit and with an assist from some spiked eggnog all of which gave us that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow.

By

Andrew DeMarco

With all the craziness going on in the world today, my wife thought it would be a good idea to get in the Holiday Spirit by decorating a bit earlier than usual, hoping that it would provide some good tidings. This reminded me of my Christmas Rosy Glow from a few years ago where I wrote about the gift of needing nothing which got us into the giving spirit.  The gift of nothing except for good health, family and friends is a gift that I can only wish for everyone.

A little over nine years ago I posted a eulogy by an anonymous author regarding the death of Common Sense and unfortunately little has changed. Some simple examples for the return of common sense are: There are some who are advocating that mathematics is racist. I don’t see how and I do not know if it is something that anyone will ever need at some point in their life. Another example of a lack of common sense is when our politicians want to pass laws lowering the penalties for crimes when that particular crime is on the rise. Finally, there are those who want to change history by erasing it instead of learning from it. Something which my Rosy Glow from nine years ago proves that we have learned nothing from our past and you can’t erase it.

Rosy Glow – Common Sense

However, this year will be different because I do want something and it is something that we need and would all benefit from.  What I want is in no way selfish but it is something which is much needed in the world today.  All I want for Christmas this year is a return to simple Common Sense which doesn’t seem like too much to ask for but isn’t quite that simple a request. It isn’t simple because folly and stupidity and a lack of common sense have taken over and is running rampant in today’s world especially among our educators, politicians and media and is infecting all parts of our lives today. Rather than continue my rant and put a damper on your holiday, I really would like you all to reread my Rosy Glow regarding this.

So, this holiday season as we all gather with our family and friends, let’s have a Common Sense Christmas or whatever holiday you may celebrate. Have civil discussions on all topics, especially about family traditions and experiences and remember those who are no longer with us to see all the common sense decisions and sacrifices they made to make us who we are today. This will hopefully lead to a new move toward common sense, one which can truly bring us all Peace on Earth and good will towards men. But also that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that….. Rosy Glow!

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

&

Happy New Year

To All