{"id":132,"date":"2011-01-09T10:35:26","date_gmt":"2011-01-09T15:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.2soar.info\/word\/?p=132"},"modified":"2012-01-08T20:31:44","modified_gmt":"2012-01-09T01:31:44","slug":"emails-from-pdski","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/2011\/01\/09\/emails-from-pdski\/","title":{"rendered":"Emails from Pdski"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have a collegue and friend who periodically shares his thoughts via email.\u00a0 I don’t know who is in his distribution list, I consider myself lucky to be one of its members.\u00a0 He truly understands the concept of ordinary legacy and puts forth his musings on a variety of subjects.\u00a0 Mostly he works to build his own legacy for his beautiful family through the memories and values his parents left for him.\u00a0 With his permission, his New Year’s message:<\/p>\n

Happy 2011 !<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When I was a kid my dad worked at B.F. Goodrich Plant 1 in Derby, CT.\u00a0 He worked on a Banbury Mill treating and pressing raw rubber that ultimately went into an extruded product that ultimately became the window and door moldings on thousands of American cars being produced in Detroit. \u00a0During the height of America\u2019s finest years in this business he would work 12 hour days, sometimes double shifts and he and my mom seemed really happy when the crew he was on got called in on Saturdays and sometimes even Sunday.\u00a0 That was triple-time.\u00a0 In the very best of years he made ten grand.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most nights when he got out of work he stopped at the River Restaurant for a beer with his buddy, Johnny Duck<\/em>.\u00a0 When they were done he would drive John to his house in Ansonia and then come home to us.\u00a0 I can always remember him sitting at the table reading the New Haven Register when he got home.\u00a0 We had a big kitchen table that was pink in the center with a black pattern around the entire edge.\u00a0 It had heavy ornate wrought-iron legs, and the chair legs matched the table but in a miniature size.\u00a0 The chairs were covered in pink naugahyde and there was a little picture window in the back of each chair with a small wrought iron ivy decoration in the center of each window.\u00a0 My Mom was always replacing the stick on rubber boots on the chairs so they wouldn\u2019t tear up her kitchen floor.\u00a0 I often remember my Dad saying out loud that so-and-so had died and he seemed somewhat forelorned. \u00a0I\u2019d ask who was Ray Collins Dad?\u00a0 And he\u2019d answer, \u201cOh he was a guy that played in Perry Mason\u201d<\/em>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not exactly sure when the first time was that it happened to me, but I do know that it was after my dad passed away, and there I was sitting at the kitchen table reading the New Haven Register and I said out loud, \u201cAhh gee, Fred Gwynne died\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 I really don\u2019t remember who the first one was, but Fred died in 1993, and would have definitely made my list.\u00a0 While he had countless successful roles, to me he would always be Herman Munster or the Judge in My Cousin Vinny<\/em>.\u00a0 In any case, every time it happens I think of my dad and realize the reason he looked a little sad was because he was.\u00a0 He lost an old friend.\u00a0 Celebrities have that unique ability to entertain and often to make what can be an exhausting life just a little bit more bearable and enjoyable.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of each year I\u2019ve started to look at the list of entertainers, celebrities and noteworthy people that have passed from our lives.\u00a0 At first it was almost unintentional, but now I seem to make a point of it, and this year the list is a doosey.\u00a0 Something like 215 entries.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t select them all, but here\u2019s a bunch that would have probably got me to look up from the kitchen table.\u00a0 May they all rest in peace and I thank them for the memories \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pernell Roberts\u00a0 81\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My family spent most Sunday nights with the Cartwrights, including Adam.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fess Parker \u00a085\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So long Davey.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Art Linkletter\u00a0 97\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sure he was on TV, but did you know he was Canadian and a major investor in the original Hoola Hoop?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Blake Edwards\u00a0 88<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Leslie Nielsen \u00a084\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And don\u2019t call me Shirley!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Denise Borino-Quinn\u00a0 46\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Johnny Sack\u2019s wife on the Sopranos<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

James MacArthur\u00a0 72\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

the \u201cDano\u201d in Book \u2018em Dano!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

James Wall\u00a0 92\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Baxter on Captain Kangaroo<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tom Bosley\u00a0 83\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. \u201cC\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Barbara Billingsley\u00a0 94\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sorry about your Mom Beeve<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tony Curtis\u00a0 85\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never seen Operation Petticoat with Tony, Cary Grant, Dina Merrill and Directed by Blake Edwards – rent it soon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Eddie Fisher\u00a0 82<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Glenn Shadix\u00a0 58\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Interior Decorator in Beetlejuice<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rue McClanahan\u00a0 76<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robert Culp\u00a0 79\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My 4th<\/sup> Grade Teacher, Mrs. Goldberg, was mortified that Eddie <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wolynec and I were allowed to stay up \u2018til 11 PMon Wednesday nights <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

so we could absorb every detail of the I Spy duo Kelly Robinson (Culp) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

and Alexander Scott (Cosby) on NBC.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Gary Coleman\u00a0 42\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What chu talkin\u2019 about Willis?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dennis Hopper\u00a0 74<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lynn Redgrave\u00a0 67<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dixie Carter\u00a0 70<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John Forsythe\u00a0 92\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now he\u2019s really with \u201cAngels\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Peter Graves\u00a0 83<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Merlin Olsen\u00a0 69<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Doug Fieger\u00a0 57\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ma ma ma My Sharona lead singer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

J.D. Salinger\u00a0 91\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His works are forced, and mostly wasted, on 17 year olds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jennifer Lyon\u00a0 37\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finished 4th<\/sup> in the 2005 Survivor Palau.\u00a0 Reminder that breast cancer still takes beautiful young women.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Johnny Maestro\u00a0 70\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it’s the best thing for you.\u00a0 But it’s the worst that could happen to me.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lena Horne\u00a0 92<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John Wooden\u00a0 99\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Passed before his \u201c88\u201d record was broken.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jimmy Dean\u00a0 81\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Big Bad John<\/em> was one of my first 45s.\u00a0 He made sausages much much later.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Manute Bol\u00a0 47\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

7\u2019 \u2013 7\u201d, played with Washington Bullets, Warriors, 76ers, and Miami Heat.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Edith Shain\u00a0 91\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The actual Nurse being kissed by the sailor in the Times Square V-J Day photo.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Erich Segal\u00a0 72<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Teddy Pendergass\u00a0 59\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To all those that can\u2019t live without someone\u2019s love\u2026.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Steve Landesburg\u00a0 65<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Don Meridith\u00a0\u00a0 72\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dallas Cowboys Quarterback and Monday Night Football Announcer. \u00a0Known for his quotes, in 1970 on a Monday night game vs. the Jets the Cleveland Browns had a receiver with the unfortunate moniker of Fair Hooker<\/em>. \u00a0\u00a0Really, that was the guy’s name. \u00a0\u00a0Dandy Don stated: “Fair Hooker, that’s a great name, isn’t it? But I haven’t met one yet”.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jill Clayburgh\u00a0 66\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Do any of you remember Portnoy\u2019s Complaint<\/em>?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sparky Andersen\u00a0 76\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cincinnati Reds 2X World Series winning manager<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ernie Harwell 92\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Voice of Tiger Baseball<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bob Shepperd\u00a0 99\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Voice of the NY Yankees.\u00a0 Called 13 World Series and his debut at the original \u201cStadium\u201d was a 5 \u2013 1 win over the Red Sox.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bobby Thomson\u00a0 86\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

New York Baseball Giants, launched the shot heard \u2018round the world in 1951.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ralph Houk\u00a0 90\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Succeeded Casey Stengel as the Manager of the Yankees 1961 \u2013 1963.\u00a0 Also spent some time doing something up in Boston. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

George Steinbrenner\u00a0 80\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And you think your Boss is tough.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Maurice Lucas\u00a0 58\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Played in the \u201cABA\u201d and then Trail Blazers, Nets, Kincks, Suns, Lakers and SuperSonics.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bob Guccione\u00a0 79\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I never bought his magazine for any \u201carticles\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Edwin Newman\u00a0 91\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0NBC Newsman<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mitch Miller\u00a0 99\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now we have no one to sing along with.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Art Clokey\u00a0 88\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If he never created Gumby where would Eddie Murphy be???<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure there was a few on this list that seemed like old friends to you too.\u00a0 The pause to remember them is good for your soul and hopefully an inspiration to try and do something great yourself this year.\u00a0 The number of people that each of us affects is most likely less than most celebrities, but we do have an effect none-the-less and at a minimum I hope you find a way to make yourself smile a little bit more in the new year.\u00a0 Worse case is to always remember Pedenski\u2019s 3 Rules of Life:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Try to Have Fun Every Day<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Have Plenty of Life Insurance<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Don\u2019t work with A-Holes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Best Wishes in the New Year,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul A. Pedenski<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you Paul, looking forward to hearing more. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have a collegue and friend who periodically shares his thoughts via email.\u00a0 I don’t know who is in his distribution list, I consider myself lucky to be one of its members.\u00a0 He truly understands the concept of ordinary legacy … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pause-points"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p27hQ5-28","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269,"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132\/revisions\/269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ordinarylegacy.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}