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Charles A. Pitzo (January 22, 1939 - January 9, 2012)
Charles A. Pitzo “Charlie” on January 9, 2012, of Bellmawr. Age 72. Husband of Marie I. Lockwood. Father of Dawn Glassmire (Joe) of Bordentown, Renee Eaton (Andy) of Springfield and the late Thomas Pitzo. Brother of Jean Cirrinicione of Cape May, Rosemarie Jensen (Bill) of Woodbury Heights, Kathleen Collins (Art) of Deptford, Eleanore Talorico of Deptford and the late Joseph Pitzo, Frances Surovick and Peter Pitzo. Grandfather of Meagan Thomas (Chris), Brenden Glassmire (Kimberly), Kristen, Devon and Leo Glassmire, Eric and Austin Eaton. Great-grandfather of Brayden Glassmire.
Charlie was an US Army veteran, a member of the Sons of Italy, Vita Nuova Lodge, American Legion Post 135, Tri-State Country Dancers in Bellmawr, 4-H Gun Club and the Apaloosa Association. He was the owner of Pitzo Dental Lab in Philadelphia for over thirty-five years and enjoyed working with stained glass and traveling national parks out west. A graduate of Gloucester City High School, he was also one of the founders of the Gloucester City Breakfast Club. And he was a member of the Ray Ford Oldtimers.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a viewing Saturday 9am to 11am at BOUCHER FUNERAL HOME, 1757 Delsea Dr., Deptford. Funeral service 11am Saturday at the funeral home. Interment Columbus Cemetery, Columbus, NJ. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 30105.
On June 4, 2010, Walter John Zdon, Sr., of Churchville, MD, formerly from Gloucester Heights, passed away peacefully at his home under hospice care with his loving wife Mady at his side.
He was born May 12, 1940 in Camden, to the late Michael and Theresa Zdon.
He was a devoted husband of 47 years to his wife Madeline. Loving father to his four children and their families: Walter J. Zdon, Jr. and Renee of Whiteford, MD; Thomas Zdon and Sherry Feehley of Aberdeen, MD; Julie Sturek and Frank of Springfield, VA; and Jeanne Carfine and Greg of Eldersburg, MD. He was the adored grandfather of Garrett and Jacob Zdon, Frank and Claire Sturek, Marley and Kendall Carfine, and Ronnie Feehley.
He had many accomplishments to include 37 years of combined federal service to the US government. He spent 10 years in the active duty Army, almost 10 years in the MD National Guard, and retired in 1995 from MTD, CSTA & ATC on the Aberdeen Proving Ground. He was an accomplished marksman who in 1964 received the prestigious gold Distinguished Marksmanship Badge and became a member of the President 100.
He was a member of various organizations to include: Knights of Columbus where he was a grand knight; American Legion; Catholic War Veterans; Lynx Motorcycle Club; The 2nd MD Artillery CSA-NSSA, a musket shooting club; the 29th Division; and a lifetime member of the NRA. He was a member of St. Patrick Church in Havre de Grace, MD for over 45 years.
Dad was our Super Z…The man in our family that everyone looked up to, respected and admired. He was a history buff, loved to read and talk, and shoot competitively. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
Gary “Woo Woo” Gross (the one with the spiked grey hair) is enjoying his retirement in sunny Florida. Gary and his wife Carol former residents of Gloucester City have been living in Naples for the last six years. Gary will celebrate his 65th birthday this coming April. On the left is his brother Bill Gross, also a former resident of Gloucester City.
His greatest passion is golf. But recently he has joined the Happy Day Charade's Club.
Can you believe “The Woo” , once the terror of Gloucester City, spending his afternoon with other seniors playing charades.
The other photos (click to enlarge) shows Gary acting out the charade challenge "A famous frog on Sesame Street".
MEMORIES FROM THE PAST-The Gloucester City Pond
Gang poses for a photo taken in the 1950's at Martins Lake, Brown Street and
Sparks Avenue. The "Rough & Ready" guys are (bottom) from left, Jungle
Murphy, Pete Coppolla, Bob Grub, Beaver, Butch Schaeffer, Jake Burkardt, Bill
"Wibby" Yeager, Frank "Reds" Grandizio, Jim Clements, Stanley Schellcroft and
Chalie Pitzo.
Do you have a photo to share? Send it to
BillGCN@verizon.net
Vincent James Coppola Jr., of
Franklin Township, passed away suddenly on Sunday May 24. Jim, as he was known
by his friends, was born and raised in Gloucester City. He was 66.
PHOTO: Jim with a flounder he caught while fishing with his friend Bob Bevan
Those of us who knew Jim will
remember him for his smile and quick wit. He had a dry sense of humor and he loved
to laugh. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was one of the original members of
the defunct Gloucester City Rod and Gun Club. Jim is an original member of the
Gloucester City Breakfast Club.
He retired from the Sheet Metal
Workers’ Local Union No. 19 in 2003 with 22 years of service. Jim was an avid
boater and also loved fishing and hunting.
In the 60’s Jim served in the New Jersey National Guard, 150th
Armored Division, 114 Infantry, Pitman barracks. The National Guard was
activated in 1967 to quell the racial riots in Newark NJ. Jim was one of the
thousands of soldiers who participated in that four day war, also known to
those of us who served in the Guard as the “Battle of Newark”.
He
is survived by his wife Rosemarie T. (nee Carbone). Loving father of Vincent J.
III and Anthony V. Coppola and grandfather of Cody N. Coppola. Devoted brother
of Judy Hampton (Randall), brother-in-law of Theresa Carbone (Kevin) and dear
uncle of Kimberly, Lesley, Brian, Andrea, Jessica and Laura. Jim was born and
raised in Gloucester City.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet Friday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
and again Saturday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at the CRERAN FUNERAL HOME 400
White Horse Pike, Oaklyn.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM at St. Aloysius Church,
37 W. Haddon Ave., Oaklyn, NJ. Interment to follow New St. Mary’s Cemetery,
Bellmawr.
I don’t know who does the nicknames in the paper, I know almost every nickname. How on earth could whoever wrote them forget the most obvious one of all. Steve “Bangs” Bangle, what is the world coming to! LOL
Thanks sincerely,
Joe “The Hemanator” Herman
Mayor of Caps
PS: Let's Not forget, Bill "Beaky" Rettig, and Frank "Tuna" Krueger
You asked me about the
Gloucester Diner and I have been
thinking about it. I will tell you what I remember about the
Gloucester Diner and the other places we would hang out back in the day.
Photo:Although this is not the Gloucester Diner this is what it looked like in the 1950's
There were originally two (2)
Gloucester City Diners (I think). The
first one was like an old trolley car or railroad car across from the Twin Bar
between Market and Powell Streets. Kings
Drug store was on Market Street across from the Twin Bar. A Merit Gas Station
was on the south corner of Market and Broadway and the little dingy diner was
next to the Merit station. I was only in
there a few times because it was very dirty looking and the coffee tasted like
swill.
Then they built the new
Gloucester Diner ( I think it was in the early 50’s) one block north of the old
Diner on Broadway between Market and Joy Streets (where the liquor store stands
today).
It was a great
improvement. All the young people in
Gloucester, who had cars, went there at night. The food was pretty good.
After the dances (usually on
Friday nights) Park dance, Gloucester High and Gloucester Catholic everybody
would go to the diner to eat and occasionally get into a good fight. After the last call in the bars, 2 o’clock in
the morning, people would all stop in for the bacon and eggs. And on the weekends the sailors came over
from Philly and they would get into a fight with the Gloucester guys.
There are many more stories
about the diner, that I can’t think of right now but I will tell you my story.
Photo of a 1950 Mercury known as a Hot Rod back in the day.............
It was the summer of 1954 and
I had just turned 17 years old. I was
racing Lowell Hubbs on Lane Avenue. A
Gloucester City policeman, Pete Sherman, followed us with his lights out. He pulled me over and gave me a reckless
driving ticket. I lost my license for 60
days. Lowell Hubbs was the lucky
one. He got away scott free.
After I lost my license I
would walk down to the Gloucester diner in the evenings to catch a ride with
someone. On one particular Saturday night I was supposed to meet Frank Boden and a kid
from Westville named Ozzie ( I don’t remember his last name). On my way down to the diner I stopped at St.
Mary’s church and went to confession. By
the time I got to the diner Frank and Ozzie had already
left and there was no one else around. I
was mad and walked home.
The next morning, I was
washing my father’s car for something to do. My uncle, Tom Yeager, came over and asked if I knew what happened to
Frank Bowden the night before. My uncle
Tom was a neighbor of Frank’s. I told
him I was supposed to go out with him, but missed him. My uncle told me that Frank and Ozzie had a
head on collision at Delsea Drive and Olive Street in Westville.
They were racing another kid
from Gloucester. The kid who was the other driver in the crash
was Ludd Juergen from Woodbury.
I went to visit Ludd in the
hospital and I told him who the guys were in the other car and that the accident
was not his fault.
Both Frank and Ozzie were
killed instantly.
I won’t go into any more
detail other than there were other places we hung out around town:
1) Powell’s luncheonette on Broadway in
Gloucester
2) Ann’s Sweet Shop in Gloucester Heights on
Nicholson Road
3) Security Restaurant in Gloucester Heights on
Route 130
4) Thelma’s on Route 130 across from Gloucester
Auto Body
5) Del Val Diner on Route 130 where King of
Pizza is now
6) Dan’s corner, Route 130 and Browning Road
across from
Ponzio’s
7) Ship Diner on the Brooklawn circle
8) Murphy House on the other Brooklawn circle
9) Weber’s Root Beer, on Route 130 Brooklawn is
still there
today
There were other places where
the kids hung out but these are the ones that I remember.
Note: Bill Wibby Yeager is a former resident of Gloucester City who now resides in Delaware. He is active member of the Breakfast Club
I am one of the "geezers" who attends the monthly
Breakfast Club meeting at the Dining Car Depot on the last Saturday of every month.
It is the one day of the month that I have to reconnect with my boyhood friends from Gloucester City.
I was a lifelong resident of Gloucester City. I am 70 years old and prior to moving from Gloucester I owned two businesses and owned various real estate, "apartments" and homes in the city.
Photo: Bill Yeager, right and Joe Miller at the April Breakfast Club meeting
When I retired I bought a little farm in Southern Delaware. When I come back to the Dining Car Depot, I can see my grandfather's house on Foundry Row on Paul Street. I can also think about all the sports we played at the "logs." Looking the other way I can see Chu Chu Murphy's boyhood home and Charlie Dutcher's too. Charlie died when I was in the third grade. I was one of his pall bearers.
I lived out by Martin's Lake and belonged to the Pond gang. As an adult, I was a union construction worker and a business man.
If you could only know the camaraderie us "geezers" have when we get together once a month.
We are now spread over many states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and others. We even had one geezer who came from Japan to have breakfast with his buddies.
We are friends and enjoy each others' company. We are in our second childhood and will have fun any way we damn please.
You can take the kid out of Gloucester but you can't take Gloucester out of the kid.
I would like to clarify a few points from Daisy Daly's article. First of all, it was purely fictional. We do not throw toast and no one dropped their pants. We respect everyone's feelings.
Also, we are grateful to Mustafa and his wife for having our group at his restaurant. We thoroughly support Mustafa in the success of his restaurant and congratulate him and his wife on the birth of their baby girl.
The "geezers" chose the Dining Car Depot as a way to help the restaurant succeed and to have a meeting place back home.
Then,
an advertisement in Friday's Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News suggested
flying from Philadelphia to Denver for $1.90 per pound -- roundtrip fare based
on total weight of passenger and passenger luggage. The Web site calls
Derrie-Air the world's first carbon-neutral airline. It talks about how the
airline will plant trees to absorb the carbon released by their planes.
The site also gives price quotes based
on weight from Philadelphia to a variety of destinations, including $1.40 for
every pound to Chicago, and $2.25-a-pound to Los Angeles.
I'm also concerned about ClearysNoteBook as well. Up to this point I thought it was an excellent addition to the NEWS.
The Dining Car Depot is one of my favorite restaurants, and Mustafa and his wife are wonderful, hard-working young adults. They have worked diligently to make this restaurant work-Mustafa is the owner, cook, janitor, server and whatever else he has to make his business friendly, comfortable and the food "excellent". His wife works by his side, but she has not had an easy time with this pregnancy-yes I said pregnancy, in other words "having a baby".
During the week of April 23 to Monday, April 28 the Dining Car Depot was closed. A sign on the door read "New Baby, will re-open on Tuesday, April 29. God blessed them with a beautiful baby girl-so Flip Flap Jerk doesn't know what he's talking about (it is evident that you made it up).
You may think this article was funny, I don't. It's insulting to a fine young couple, who are trying to make a living. I don't even think the "Geezers" are funny.
Why in the world would adult people throw toast up and down the table? Didn't anyone ever teach them that you can "pass the plate of toast" How impressive is that to any children or young people in the restaurant to see "juveniles" throwing toast. Do you think that was a good example? Or maybe you think that's funny.
I think the "Geezers" should be upset with your article. Portraying these men as idiots who couldn't make a decision, who dropped their pants in public (lucky the police were not close by), who couldn't even find the exit to parking lot, and even worse didn't have the foggiest idea where to find the Brooklawn Diner is offensive.
You owe the people at the Dining Car Depot an apology for your distasteful article.
I was sad to hear this article was misconstrued by some readers. The story was simply written to entertain and my friend, Bill Cleary, a very gifted and talented writer, had no intention to defame the good name or reputation of The Dining Car Depot.
Couldn't the readers see by the pen name Daisy Daily the story was done as a satire?
Each month, a men's breakfast club enjoys the food and hospitality given them by The Dining Car Depot and fully intends to return. I for one was happy to open my local paper and thoroughly enjoyed reading such a humorous story and that's exactly what it was, a fictional story, even I knew that.
NOTE from Bill: The following article is NOT TRUE, it is a fictitious story.
The Gloucester City Breakfast Club was thrown a "curve" this past Saturday morning finding out when they arrived at the Dining Car Depot that their favorite restaurant was closed. The sign on the restaurant door read, "New Baby, will Re-Open on Tuesday, April 29".
The organization has been meeting at the restaurant for over a year, the last Saturday of each month at 9 AM.
Photo El Presidente Chalie
Now this is where the story gets interesting. I have an inside source who works at the local eatery and he told me the restaurant was open. Flip Flap Jack said, (not his real name) "several of the elderly Geezers started a "Food Fight" at last month's meeting. When the owner saw them pull into the parking lot on Saturday, he told me "quick lock the door". As for the posted signs about the baby, "that was just a ruse so they would go away," said Flip Flap.
I stood in the parking lot with "The Geezers" as their numbers continued to grow wondering what they were going to do. There were a few rebels in the crowd, left-over from the 60's no doubt, who pull out these dilapidated signs that read, "Power to the People". They thought it was a sit-in I guess. The others just talked about their ailments and what new medicine they were taking this month. In fact one of them even took down his pants to show off the new style "DEPENDS" he was wearing.
The oldest of the group, a man the other "Geezers" call "El Presidente Chalie" shouts out for everyone to follow him to the Brooklawn Diner. I notice whenever El Presidente speaks no one pays any attention to him. It was interesting to watch this gentleman drive his pickup truck around and around in circles for several minutes looking for the driveway to exit. Finally someone pointed him in the direction of Brooklawn and The El Presidente headed south. Minutes later the rest of group got in their cars and they drove that way also.
Before he drove off I had asked this man Chalie about
the food fight, and he said it never
happened. "Someone asked me to pass the toast. It was a long table. So
I had to throw it. This happpen a couple of times. It was no fight. We were just
passing the toast back and forth.".
Curious I headed to the Brooklawn Diner myself to see how many of the group which numbered about 50 would be able to find their way to the new destination. When I arrived at the Brooklawn Diner, El Presidente was standing outside. Apparently word about last month's suppose food fight at the Dining Car Depot spread to other establishments. El Presidente said the manager of the Diner was unable to accommodate so many people for breakfast.
It was hard to believe the manager since the diner was only half-full.
By this time it was getting late and some of "The Geezers" were either hyperglycemic since they started to faint from not having anything to eat. Or they were tired from all the excitement and decided to take a nap.
Two hours was more than enough time of watching this comical group so I decided to split and head for a nearby Dunkin Donuts. The last I heard "The Geezers" headed further south to a restaurant on Old Crown Point Road in Gloucester County. No doubt the story about the Food Fight had not reached that Diner so they were allowed inside.
As for next month's meeting stay tuned to ClearysNoteBook, I will let you know where and when it will be held.
The January Breakfast Club had a great turnout. The monthly gathering met today January 26, at the Dining Car Depot in Gloucester City. Some of those in attendance included: from left, Joe Boulden, Jim Coppolla, Bill 'The Buck' Graves, wearing his 1962 GHS sweater, Bob Bevan, John Rowand, Harry Blymer and John Hindsley.
Also present: Harry Walker, Joe Raube, Jack McDade, Bud Ritchie, Walt Hall, Bill Ritchie, Ed Simila, Chalie Pitzo, Frank Grandizio, Joe Miller, Butch Shaffer, Bud Wrigley, Joe O'Donnell, Bob Sliwa, Ron Raube, Carl Davis, and Jim McGee (the 50-50 winner).
Also, Len Lacavara, Frank DiFelice, Joe DiGiacomo, Jack Heiser, Jim Boyle, Ed Hubbs, Rick Gonzales, Jack Persichette, John Lang, Bill Cleary, Geo Cleary, Stu Rechard, Ken MacAdams, Walt Zdon, John Zdon, and Don Kelly.
The Gloucester City Breakfast Club met
on Saturday, September 29 at the Dining Car Depot, Monmouth Street and
railroad.
Winner of 50-50, Walt Hall, $72. September treasury report $216. Vote for
moving: Yes13 N0 15(the
no's have it). Vote for charity donation: Yes 11, No 12(the no's win). Five
people didn't vote. Total members present, 28.
Photo: sitting, from left, Bob Sliwa, Ed Simila, Earl Kaighn, Bill Gross, Joe
Miller, Pete Coppola, Frank "Reds" Grandizio, Jim Coppola, and Stu
Reckard.
Standing from left, Ed Hubbs, Walt Hall, George Cleary, Butch Shaffer, Bob
Bevan, Frank DiFelice, Bill "Wibby" Yeager, Jack "Oats"
McDade, Mike Gurcik Sr., Ron Villanova, Ron Raube, Ron Middleton, Chal
Tourtual, Joe Boulden, and Jack Persichetti.
Missing from photo: Ken MacAdams, Joe DiGiacomo, Harry Blymer, and Bill Cleary.
Don't forget, Ray Ford's Old-timers Meeting, October
19th, doors open 7 PM, Gloucester Hts. Fire Hall, Nicholson Road. Below: from left, Butch Shaffer, Joe Miller, Pete Coppola
The Gloucester City Breakfast Club will meet
Saturday, August 25th at 9 PM at the Dining Car Depot, Monmouth
Street and the Railroad, Gloucester City. To be a member you must be a male, cross dressers are okay, and you must eat breakfast. The final
requirement is being able to laugh.
Those who attended the July meeting
included: John
Hindsley, Bill (Wimby) Yeager, Bob Sliwa, Bob Bevan, Harry Blymer, Earl Kaighn,
Bill Cleary, Gary Marcucci, Len Lacovara, Chalie Tourtual, Bob Bevan, Walt
Hall, Bob Cline, Joe DiGiacomo, Tom Choo Choo Murphy and Ron Raube.
Also, Jim Coppola, Ed Simila, Joe
Boulden, Frank (aka Reds) Grandizio, Butch Shaffer, Chalie Pitzo, Frank
DeFelice, Mike Greene, Joe Miller and Ron Villanova. Treasurer report: B. Cleary and Pitzo opened a
bank account recently at the The Bank in Bellmawr. August statement shows there is a total of $153 in
the account.
PS :Someone remind Raube and DeFelice the meeting starts at 9 AM not noon. view photo album
The Gloucester City Breakfast Club met on Saturday July 28 at the Dining Car Depot. The club held its first official 50-50 Drawing using a roll of number tickets. In the past your number was written on a little tag or your name was written on the back of a dollar bill. But there was still problems with this simplified new method on Saturday.
You have to understand some of these individuals only get out on weekends. Anyway on Saturday one member, who will remain anonymous, didn't know he was suppose to keep one ticket and throw the other in the bucket. Instead he placed both tickets into the tub and as a result it took sometime to determine the winner. Tom ChooChoo Murphy, who took control of the big drawing, would call out, " Ticket 001", no one answers; "Ticket 002", no one answers. It continued like that for 30 long minutes. Don't ask how it happen, just remember you will be old someday too!
"Hopefully when the time comes our families will commit all of us to the same nursing home so we can continue the laughter ", said Murphy.
Waiting for the drawing to be completed outside of the restaurant were: from left, Jim Coppola, Ed Simila, Joe Boulden, Frank (aka Reds) Grandizio, Butch Shaffer, Chalie Pitzo, Frank DeFelice, Mike Green, Joe Miller and Ron Villanova. Actually these guys were trying to skip out without paying their bill. And the photo had to be taken with the wall in front of them because they wore their breakfast on the clothes. Take my word it was Nasty looking. Especially Shaffer.
Inside fighting over the winnings were: John Hindsley, Bill (Wibby) Yeager, Bob Sliwa, Bob Bevan, Harry Blymer, Earl Kaighn, Bill Cleary, Gary Marcucci, Len Lacovara, Chalie Tourtual, Joe DiGiacomo, Bob Kline, Walt Hall and Ron Raube.
Oh the winner of the drawing ? For the second month in a row it was Grandizio. Just once you would think he would pick up the tab for breakfast. The Club sends get well wishes to member Gary Gross, who underwent surgery a couple weeks ago. Gary, who resides in Florida with his loving wife Carol, is doing great.
Treasurer report: B. Cleary and Pitzo opened a bank account recently at the The Bank in Bellmawr. July statement shows there is a total of $153 in the account.
Next meeting is Saturday, August 25th at 9 AM.
author: Lois Lane, Gossip Columnist for The Notebook
The Breakfast Club changes meeting Date; officially the last Saturday of the month 9 AM
The male alumni from Tucker's Corner, Powell's, Pine House, Augie's Pool Room, Gords, Cerrone's Luncheonette, The Venice, Crown Point, Dick Lees, Wayne's Log Cabin, Sand Bar, Sports Corner etc. get together each month for what else, breakfast.
NOTE: a change has been made the group will now meet the last Saturday of the month beginning in July. The time has also been changed to 9 AM. The next meeting will be July 28th at the Dining Car Depot, Monmouth Street, Gloucester City.
Present at the June 23rd meeting: Bill Cleary, George Cleary, Bill Yeager, Bill Ritchie, Bill Gross, Bob Bevan, Ken MacAdams, Frank DeFelice, Walt Hall, Chalie Pitzo, Frank Grandizio, Len Lacovara, Ron Raube and Joe DiGiacomo.
Present at the May 26th meeting: Ron Raube, Jim Blymer, Geo Cleary, Bill Cleary, Gary Marcucci, Chalie Tourtual, Joe Boulden, Joe DiGiacomo, Chalie Pitzo, Bill Wimby Yeager, Frank DeFelice, Walt Hall, Ron Villanova, Joe Miller, Sam Chew, Ron Middleton and Jack Oats McDade. Winner of the 50-50, Ron Villanova.
The male alumni
fromTucker's Corner, Powell's,
Pine House, Augie's Pool Room, Gords, Cerrone's Luncheonette, The Venice,
Crown Point, Dick Lees, Wayne's Log Cabin, Sand Bar, Sports Corner etc. get together
for breakfast each month for breakfast.
NOTE: a change has been made the group will now meet the last Saturday
of the month beginning in July. The time has also been changed to 9 AM.
The next meeting will be July 28th at the Dining Car Depot, Monmouth
Street, Gloucester City. Present at the June 23rd meeting: Bill
Cleary, Geoge Cleary, Bill Yeager, Bill Ritchie, Bill Gross, Bob Bevan,
Ken MacAdams, Frank DeFelice, Walt Hall, Chalie Pitzo, Frank Grandizio, Len Lacovara, Ron Raube
and Joe DiGiacomo.
Present at the May 26th meeting: Ron Raube, Jim Blymer, Geo Cleary, Bill
Cleary, Gary Marcucci, Chalie Tourtual, Joe Boulden, Joe DiGiacomo, Chalie
Pitzo, Bill Wimby Yeager, Frank DeFelice, Walt Hall, Ron Villanova, Joe Miller,
Sam Chew, Ron Middleton and Jack Oats McDade. Winner of the 50-50, Ron
Villanova.
The meeting of the Gloucester City Breakfast Club was held Saturday, April 28 at the Train Station. Guests were Tom "ChooChoo" Murphy, Bill "Wibby" Yeager, Walt Hall. Members present, Bill and George Cleary, Harry and Jim Blymer, Jim Coppola, Joe DiGiacomo, John Hindsley, Joe Miller, Chalie Pitzo, Ron Villanova, Gary Marcucci, Jack Persichette, Ron Raube, Harry Walker.
Winner of the 50-50 Coppola. By the way he was in charge of the numbers bucket; not to say there was anything wrong but..... !
The Club meets the fourth Saturday of each month at the Train Station, 9:30 PM. All are welcome. Next meeting Saturday, May 26th. The organization was formed in May 2006 by Chalie Pitzo. Chalie is out of the hospital and is able to walk with the assistance of a cane. He like to thank everyone for their prayers and cards. See the Album
Gloucester City Breakfast Club met today Saturday, (photo album is posted in the left col) from left, Butch, Ron, Lannie, Harry Blymer, Chip Miller, Chalie Pitzo, Reds, Harry Walker, Frank DeFelice, Jack and Mike Bowe, John Rowand, Ron Villanova, Geo Cleary, Joe DiGiacomo, Jack Persichetti, Bill Gross, Joe Boulden, Jim Blymer, Gary Marcucci, Gary Gross, Mike Greene...
Skip Grandizio, Army Veteran, Iron Worker, Past City Resident; Services This Friday in Clayton
By William E. Cleary
John A “Skip” Grandizio, of Franklinville died suddenly on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 in Kennedy Hospital, Washington Township at the age of 65. Nine weeks ago Skip, a diabetic, got an infection in his foot, and was taken to the hospital for treatment. He was in the hospital when his illness took a turn for the worst; and he passed away.
“My brother Skip was a cut-up," said Frank “Reds” Grandizio. "He loved to joke around. He had a quick wit. Skip enjoyed teasing people and being teased. He was never at a loss for words and enjoyed a good time.”
Born in Philadelphia, PA., he was raised in Gloucester City. For the past 39 years he was a resident of Franklinville. He was a US Army Veteran, and was a retired Iron Worker with Local #502, Newark, NJ. He last worked at Fisher Steel Company., Bellmawr, NJ.
John enjoyed salt water fishing, hunting, and riding his motorcycle. He was a former member of the “Retreads”. He was a volunteer at Kennedy Hospital Washington Twp., for the past 7 years, a member of the Gloucester City Ray Ford Old Timers, and the Gloucester City Breakfast Club.
He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Gloria J., nee Smith, and his devoted daughters, Deborah Pratz and her husband Thomas of Franklinville, and Dawn Hinxman and her husband Dwayne of Northfield, NH. Three grandchildren, Thomas Pratz Jr., Megan and Hunter Hinxman.
His dear siblings, Frank G. Grandizio of Williamstown, Mary Smith of Audubon, Theresa Taylor of Bellmawr, Helen Turing of Gloucester City, the late Louis A. Grandizio Jr., and his close friend, Howard “Butch” Shaffer of Middle Twp. NJ.
Relatives & Friends are invited to attend his Viewing on Friday. December 22, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, Broad and Maple Streets. Clayton.
Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.., Church of Nativity, Delsea Drive, Franklinville. Interment, Gloucester County Vets. Memorial Cemetery, Williamstown.
For those who so desire, the family request memorials may be sent to American Diabetes Assoc. 1060 N. Kings Highway. Suite 309, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.
To sign online guest book, visit www.barclayfuneralhome.net.
The photo was taken at the first meeting of the Breakfast Club several months ago. Pictured: from left, Skip Grandizio, Jack Persichette, Charlie Tourtural, Butch Schaeffer, Chal Pitzo, Geo Cleary, Lannie Letzgus, Harry Walker, Sam Chew, Harry Blymer, Bill Cleary, Ron Raube, Joe Miller, Joe DiGiacomo, Al DiGiacomo, Stu Reckard....
The monthly get together is for male alumni of friends from the 50's and 60's that hung out at Tuckers Corner, Powells, Gords, The Pool Room, Pine House, Cerrone's, The Venice, Sand Bar, Sports Corner, Essex House, Crown Point. The group meets for breakfast the fourth Saturday of the month, next date, Saturday, Dec. 23 at 10 am...Dining Car Depot, Monmouth and the Railroad, Gloucester City.... see the photo album in the left column title "Breakfast Club"
It was a wise man who said news is a conversation. Let's talk. Please comment on what moves you. CNBNEWS@verizon.net , WE might want to quote from it. Unless you tell US it's private. An open comments policy does not mean hate speech is welcomed. It's our right to delete such comments and block repeat offenders.
The weekend event was held in Millville . Alumni members from the Class of 1960, Class of 1961, Class of 1962, Class of 1963 and 1964 were in attendance.
Our first Memories album was so well received I decided to start a second one. If you have any photos you like to submit to add to any of the albums on our site send them to BillGCN@verizon.net. Please include a brief description and the approximate year the picture was taken.
It was a wise man who said news is a conversation. Let's talk. Please comment on what moves you. CNBNEWS@verizon.net , WE might want to quote from it. Unless you tell US it's private. An open comments policy does not mean hate speech is welcomed. It's our right to delete such comments and block repeat offenders.
John Ryan, photographer, reporter and ad salesman for the Gloucester City News took these photos in the 1980's. John has since passed away.
Looking down from heaven John will be happy to see his photos are still being used.
Over the next couple weeks more photos will be added to this album.
If you have a photo you would like to see published in any of the albums listed on this site you can e-mail them to BillGCN@verizon.net. Or if you want call 456-1199 and someone will come out and pick the photo up. It will be returned.
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