Every Saturday he was home by noon and we had what we called dinner-supper, a big meal at noon instead of evening.
He liked reading and it was that factor that encouraged us to read. His reading out loud enticed us to read books.
He also liked the new invention: Radio. He owned a crystal set and sometimes bragged about getting broadcasts as far away as Crown Point, Indiana. Eventually he graduated to larger sets run by automobile batteries. When he finally got a Majestic Radio he was on top of the world.
He was a great one for murder mysteries, and it bacame a weekly event for all of us to stay up late at night to listen to "Lights Out" at midnight. It was a family affair involving each of us. We kids would break up Nestle's candy bars and help Mom make crackers and sharp cheddar cheese sandwiches. They were not touched until Papa told us it was okay to eat at midnight.
His love of cars was intense. He followed the automobile races and loved driving the Nash family car.
Every Summer for several years, he and Mom rented a cottage at Cedar Lake, Indiana. The entire family looked forward to it and frequently friends and relatives joined us. The Smith's - Dan and Frances, Huey Dante, Ed Quinn, the Mahoneys - Tom and Gert and others. It was a Summer event for all of us. He enjoyed swimming and he and Huey were quite good at it.
He had attended St. James Grammar School and High School. However, he did not finish high school. He and Pa were great friends of Father Donahue and frequently traveled from Carpenter Street back to St. James for Sunday Mass.
His funeral Mass was at St. James Church, with Father Donahue officiating and I served as altar boy.