Saturday, October 14, 2023
Bob was my best friend growing up in Maybrook Gardens apartments in Maywood, NJ. We attended Maywood Avenue Elementary/Jr. High School and Bogota High School, and went through all the fun and angst of youth and young adulthood together. He is such an important part of my growing up years. Our other best friend was Eddie Gillen, and people would laugh when they saw us walking down Maywood Avenue together: Eddie at 6'4", Me at 5'9", Bob at 5'2". "Big, little, littlest," a passing girl said. We laughed. Bob hoped to become a jockey, and he had the body for it: small, but strong. We lifted weights together in an apartment basement near his home (We remained pretty skinny, but we tried). He was a popular kid (see the photos I have posted in the "Photos" section, here) from his Jr. High and High School yearbooks. Voted "Peppiest" and "Best Smile" at Bogota." We connected only a few times after I thumbed across the country when I was 20, but when we did, it was like no time had passed. He was by buddy, best friend. Great guy!
