Thursday, October 1, 2020
To Gary's Family,
I was saddened to get the news of Gary's death. We spent some good times together, especially as kids. He came over from Dorwin Ave to our house on Oakley Drive to play basketball at what was just about the only hoop in the neighborhood. From the beginning, he was good -- small but fast and savvy. One cold day, I went in the house early. He stayed on for a few more shots. I was in the basement by the window that looked up and out at the driveway as he went past. I was learning how to swear, and so, shouted out, "So long, Lefty, you 'blank-of-a-blank!" (jokingly, not angrily) only to see my Dad looking down from the top of the stairs! Trouble!
Lefty and I also had a bit of a lark on opening day of the Chiefs' baseball season. With our parents' permission, we cut class (sixth grade at Meachem Elementary) and went to the ballgame. The next day, Miss Baker asked us to stay after class. We were scared! She gave us a few seconds of a scowl, then smiled and asked us if we'd enjoyed the ballgame. Boy, were we relieved.
We played hockey together on the frozen ponds by Onondaga Creek, near his house (I think we also played Pewee Hockey together at the War Memorial, but that's a bit vague). What I do know is that we played together on Valley High's baseball team. If there was one thing our coach, Walt Bohlen, hated, it was failure to lay down a good bunt. Lefty didn't have to worry -- he was good at everything. I wasn't, and lived in fear of having to bunt.
He was more than a fine athlete, he was a fine person, quiet and never boastful. I was lucky to have him as a teammate, a classmate, and a friend.
John Chamberlin
