Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Tom, Ray, Mary Ellen and Sally,
So many memories washed over me when I received Mary Ellen’s e-mail. Mrs. Slattery is the last “Mom” from our old Farragut/St. Ray’s neighborhood of the 1950’s and 60’s. What a terrific person she was. And she was blessed with a wonderful husband and family. She had an inherent joy about her, that I could sense even as a little kid. And she made just the very best cookies! Her Pinwheel cookies were as delicious as they are legendary! I and others would gather and play at the your house as you actually had a makeshift Rumpus Room in the basement! And your Mom and Dad were most tolerant with the noise. We played Parchisi, Clue, cards, Photo Electric Football, etc., NHL Hockey, or would just plain ol’ goof around. Mary Ellen and I would play Orange 45rpm Jiminy Cricket Disney records. I still know, “I’m No Fool,” and “Encyclopedia” and “Why Oh Why.”
A mentor/colleague of mine in NYC, where I lived for 15 years once told me, “Your neighborhood will follow you wherever your go!” Well…I’ll never forget walking up 7th Avenue mid-afternoon and bumping into Tom walking across 56th Street, as he was on a layover while flying with United Airlines!
You were blessed to have had a wonderful mother and father, and your Gramma Slattery, too.
John Lordan
