Letters

Hi Dave:

Just writing to tell you what a great job you're doing on the Site. Joe Stanitis sent me the address. I still think of him as "Bob". I've been living in Connecticut since 1955. Married in 1959, three daughters, and 8 grandchildren. Life is good.

Loved the History of St Agnes and the bully stories. I was older when I came to the home. Yet I knew as you and most guys did that it was imperative to fight back, no matter how big the guy was. I had about 6 fights in my first two or three weeks. Lost them all, but that held me fightless for the rest of the my time there, except possibly for one or two more. Looking back, I probably came off as arrogant to some people. But unfortunately that was the way I felt I had to handle it. Believe me, fighting was the last thing I wanted to do. Much rather play sports like yourself.

Joined the army in 1957 and got out in 1960. Made spec 4 as a helicopter mechanic. Got a job in Sikorsky Aircraft as a riveter. Got into a sheetmetal apprentiship, became a toolmaker, foreman, and left after 41 years as an engineering supervisor. Enjoying retirement, play golf and keep busy helping out down at the local VFW. My kid brother Joe died about 10 years ago. My youngest brother Tom is retired and lives in San Diego.

Keep up the great work on the site. I put it into my "favorite" file.

Fellow "house" kid

Jim Shea

From: Jim Shea
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 11:06 AM
Subject: RE: St Agnes Home page

My brother Tom and myself arrived in March 1951. I was about 13 and Tom was about 7. I was put into Tappan Zee as a freshman and graduated with John Antonacci, Angie Figueroa, Dan Pacynski, Gus Karris, Pat Moriarty, and Harold Norris in 1954. My brother Tom went to the regular grammar school. He finished school in the city, since they stopped sending the kids to Tappan Zee in 1954. Tom is also retired now lives in San Diego.

I made up an photo attachment for Joe Stanitis which shows my high school picture and one recent one with me and the wife. For some reason it seems to be too dark. I'm still learning how to do some things on the computer. I'll work on it.

Jim