Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Dear Aunt Mary, Family and Friends, My sincere sympathy and condolences to all on your loss. Death of a loved one is always sad, but it can also be a blessing when it is the end of suffering. Angelo “Chaut” Staffo was one of my special Uncles and the last of the Staffo family that blessed each of us with their presence. Uncle Chaut was the baby of the family of 5 boys and 2 girls. His “best friend” was his big brother, John Charles or “Matchy” as he was nick named by family and friends. Uncle Chaut told me he went in to the Army Air Force in WWII because he was following his big brother. Uncle Matchy was killed in action on October 10th 1943; he was only 22 years old. It was a tragedy that devastated the family and took many years before they could speak about it. Each of us who has had the privilege to watch Uncle Chaut discuss his best friend in the video “Two Brothers” knows, without a doubt, the special bond that existed between the two of them. They are together once again after 70 years and they are celebrating in each other’s arms along with older brothers Nicholas “Chick”; Michael “Blackie”, and Rock “Si Bull”; and older sisters Rose and Lena. We have been blessed to have grown up surrounded by such amazing people who helped shape our lives and prepare us for success. They would not want us to cry or be sad, but to remember all of the good times we shared as family, celebrate those memories, laugh and enjoy and relish the company of all the loved ones who surround us, and create new memories. They are all with us in spirit: Uncle Rock will pass the jug of wine around and lead us in singing; Uncle Mike will arrive late and start kidding with his brothers; my Dad, Chick will also arrive late laughing and with a wave of the hat as if he were a President saluting the crowd; of course Uncle Chaut is right behind, actually helping my Dad in as they both were delayed tending bar at the DeCarlo-Staffo Post! Rose and Lena have been there for hours and of course all of the food is spread out across all of the tables extending from room, to room, to room! As a family, we are together again to remember the precious memories, and share the laughter which is the magic that heals our hearts. Let the magic begin! One of my earliest memories of Uncle Chaut is playing with Bobby and Billy at your first apartment above the Scarano Bakery on Flint Ave. We must have driven everyone crazy running up and down the stairs and all around the neighborhood. Uncle Chaut would catch us every now and then getting bread ends from Luciano and sneaking across the street to where Frank and Luciano lived to melt quarter pound sticks of butter to sop up with the bread. I chuckle to myself thinking about Uncle Chaut coaching Billy and I on the HP Snyder Minor League baseball team. I was probably the most uncoordinated and non-athletic player on the team! Uncle Chaut had amazing patience to deal with my challenges and he demonstrated that in some fashion by letting me play at every single position! Throughout this he never did anything to discourage or criticize, even though my performance and lack of skills had to frustrate him. After coaching myself with Kristin for almost 12 years I really can appreciate that he set an example that I was not even aware of until many years later. Your move up to Arthur Street was tough on all of us! The great thing about it for me is that you let me sleep over! We had wonderful times exploring this great big house! Bobby and Billy soon introduced me to a very unique feature, especially for curious young boys who were just starting to notice that girls were different. If you were in the back upstairs bedroom you could peek through the heating vent that connected to the bathroom! We were a little naïve and our biggest problem was that we usually burst out laughing and attracted attention. For some reason as a child (and even up until I had my knee surgery my senior year in High School) I was a very light sleeper and during my sleep overs I would readily wake up with the slightest noise. You or Uncle Chaut would always check up on us before you went to bed, and I remember Uncle Chaut being startled at first, then laughing, when he looked in late one night and I popped up in bed and started talking to him while Billy and Bobby were fast asleep beside me. Another memory is the summer visits of cousins Timber and Louie! Timber was a riot and looking back I am amazed once again at Uncle Chaut’s patience with the challenge of keeping track or even finding Timber after one of his escapades. Timber’s constant reference to Billy as “Willy the whip!” still brings a smile to my face and a chuckle. Uncle Chaut loved to play golf! I grew up hearing about his golf and “Nick Stoners” stands out for some reason. In the late 60s and early 70’s we got a chuckle out of that name and laughed about our own “stoners” that were raging across the country and college campuses at the time. I did not play golf at this time but I knew he golfed with Eddie and Butchie, but for some reason when he talked about their play, he would shake his head and chuckle. Later when my daughter Kristin started playing golf in her late teens, I tried and was fortunate that during a few visits to LF Uncle Chaut took us out to the driving range on Rt 5S, and golfing at the LF Municipal course. Those who know me are aware that I am a terrible golfer and have no skill or patience for the game. Uncle Chaut was fantastic with both of us, especially Kristin who is a natural athlete. He was an excellent Coach and Kristin especially enjoyed playing with him and getting tips from an expert. Uncle Chaut was very impressed with how Greg and Christopher played and I know he really enjoyed playing with them. It was Uncle Chaut who got me started on my family historical research when I came home for a visit in August 2001. He told me David Hill had called him about Uncle Matchy, as David’s Uncle Bill was the Radio Operator on the B-17 and also KIA on 10/10/1943. He asked me to call David and work with him to find out the details of what really happened that day. Uncle Chaut inspired me and helped me throughout the journey which continues today. There are many more stories and memories, and I hope that each of you will take a few minutes to reflect back on your special memories with Chaut and share them with us. May God bless each of you and your family with good health, good friends, and good times. With all my love, Gary T. Staffo 11/21/2013