Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Uncle Tony, he was always Uncle Tony to everyone. even though he was my second cousin, then first cousin by marrying my cousin Tina. Not many people know that growing up, Uncle Tony had a huge influence on me. My love for Mustangs first and foremost! Pink Floyd, Allan Parsons, The Who and of course, The Beatles.. all because I got introduced to them by Uncle Tony.. High end audio equipment!!! Advent speakers and a Marantz tube amp were the the only way to listen to a TEAC 4-track Reel to Reel tape player.
Visiting IBM on family days, seeing his office, getting to play with punch cards and a Series 7 Supercomputer the size of a minivan that could add and subtract numbers and print out primitive banners.
My career in life is all about computers, from Radio Shack to IBM, to Public Schools on to West Point, all as an IT Computer Specialist ... who do you think got me started? I owe a lot to him, I don't think my life would have been formed the way it has without his influences. I never really told anyone all this, but later in life, whenever we got together, our conversations lead in one of those directions. I will never forget who put me on my path, the path that made me who I am.
I never got to bring him to an Army Football Game, or visit the Cadet Mess, or tour the site with a few of my friends that shared the military brotherhood with him.
I'll miss Uncle Tony very much.
Nicky
