If there is any one person who has influenced my life more than any one person, it's the person in the image above. He is my Uncle Willie, my mother's brother. We just called him Unc. My mother described him as a "character". He was a fun person to be around. He had this great ability to talk in circles. He was a very intelligent person. And very kind.

I remember when I was kid and he would call for my Mother. I would pick up the phone and say hello. He would say "who is this?" I would answer it's Joey. He would say "Why are you calling me, what do you want!". Of course I had to say no you called here. But he would always insist that I called him. I found it funny.

Years ago we brought him to "Domek".  I remember he wanted to wonder the farmers field behind the house looking for Marijauna. I am not sure if he found any, or if he was really looking. But it had everyone wondering.

About 10 years ago we were at a wedding for one of my cousins. And I was talking to Unc in the entry way of the church. He asked me "What is the place?". I said "a Church?". He said "this place? " I said, "a doorway". Unc: "No Larger". Me: "Planet earth?". Unc: "Smaller". Me: "United States". Unc: "Smaller". Me: "Orland Park?". Unc: "Smaller". Me: "A Church?". Unc: "No, no. this place". Right at that time we both said at the same time "A Foyer!". It was very funny. At that time I realized I had some of his ability to talk in circles.

Unc used to repair old Radios. He always had a lot of radios around his apartment. They were always out of their cases or cabinets, but worked. I remember I was very facinated by the radios and the fact he could repair them. That influenced me to learn about electronics and later computers. He always had old copies of Popular Mechnics and Electronics around his apartment, I used to read them. And I used to get into big trouble at home because I used to tear apart the TV to be like Unc.

Today, 12/26/2007,  Unc joined his sisters: Marie and Ceclia, his Brother Richard and Mother Sophie.

We will miss you William.

Joe