General Notes

Dad was born June 6, 1920.  As a kid, Dad had asthma, so was not able to do many sports.  So he became a voracious reader and was very active in the Boy Scouts.  He developed a love of working with his hands doing Indian bead work and woodworking.  He loved to sail and owned his own sailboat.  His younger sister Ellie, said he was a pain in the neck, always teasing his two sisters, Kay and Ellie.  He was stubborn and often pushed his Dad to the limit.  

He went to Oberlin College in Ohio in 1938 and majored in Chemical Engineering and joined the Glee Club.  His senior year, he met Mom through his sister, Ellie.  

He tried to join the armed forces, but his poor eyesight kept him out.  So he went to work for Atlas Powder in Paducah, Kentucky, a munitions factory and paint company.  

Mom and Dad were married in 1945 after Mom graduated, and they moved to Massachusetts.  Dad started working for Magnus Chemical Company in 1952 as a sales rep and we all moved to Fanwood, NJ.  He stayed with Magnus for 12 years, eventually becoming their Vice President in charge of Sales.  

In his later years, Dad tried Real Estate for a short while.  He and Mom then opened the Peddler’s Shop in 1972, specializing in handcrafted gifts made in the United States.  Dad took up silversmithing and Mom made dried flower arrangements, stuffed animals, cross-stitch wall hangings and knitted hats and scarves.  Dad handled the business end and Mom did all the purchasing.

They opened shops in Malvern and Marshallton, PA and Ocean City, Stone Harbor and Cape May, NJ.  We kids were involved in the running of the shops during that time.  

We all collectively decided five shops were too many and decided to downsize.  We all moved to VA we kids pursued other occupations.  Mom and Dad opened The Peddler’s Shop in Charlottesville with Barbara in 1982 and worked there till they retired in 1998.

I use the word “retired” loosely because Mom and Dad continued doing craft shows at Crozet, Blue Ridge Community College and Wintergreen Resort for five years and worked at Lang’s Gift Shop in Afton.

Mom and Dad were active in Trinity Presbyterian Church for 20 years, helping with the nursery and attending Sunday services.

The essence of Dad…

He loved people…even from his wheelchair, he would draw people out and make people laugh.

He had a marvelous sense of humor…he loved playing practical jokes on people…for example, the fake heart attack at his dentist, Diana Marchibroda’s office.

He was intellectually curious…his mind was like a sponge.  His nickname in elementary school was “The Little Professor.”  I remember once when he took us to school with friends…he waxes poetic on the types of clouds…we wanted to crawl under the seat, we were so embarrassed!

He was a strict disciplinarian as a dad…we were not spared the paddle.

He was a great husband…Mom and Dad, in love for 65 years, had great respect and affection for each other.  In their two month stint in Avante Nursing Home, the staff called them “Young Lovers.”

He wanted to be MEMORABLE…and that he definitely is.

We will greatly miss the spark and love of life that was Dad…he is irreplaceable.