Clarence

At home in Whitestone, New York

Clarence on left and his friend Johnny Lucas

Clarence in New Jersey 1950

Clarence was born May 4, 1931 in Queens, New York. Clarence was in the Army.

Clarence was in the Army. Learning Radio

After moving to San Pedro, California, Clarence met Margie Lane, she was born March 14. 1934 in Los Angeles, California and they married November 6, 1954 in San Pedro, California.

Clarence and Margie November 6, 1954

Clarence and wife Margie at his Mothers home

Clarence was a painter by trade, but he had to be a Saint.. Clarence and Margie had 7 children total. Clarence is a patient man, he gave much of his attention to his family. He always went to church and made sure his children did the same. Clarence and Margie have more than enough love to give to their children. Clarence worked at the church besides working his regular job, to make sure his children would go to parochial school.

Clarence has an ear for music, he can play the guitar, harmonica, and the accordion to songs that he would hear just once. He also has wrote his own song, a child's Christmas song. Clarence has his mothers accordion to this day, he is very proud to of inherited this.

. Clarence would often take his family camping, Clarence and Margie had a very special place for them to go. Family was important to both of them, their own and each others. Family gatherings had to become the thing for them, for as fast as their family grew, the Sunday visits had to become gatherings. If a reunion needed to be had, well it was at Clarence and Margie's. They would open their home to all with plenty of food and wonderful hospitality.

We thank you.

Memories of Clarence by Kitty Irene

We all know Clarence as he now is...Tall and well built. Can you imagine him as a skinny little runt? We know him for his sense of humor. Can you imagine him as an angry foul mouthed kid? A rascal.......As a child he was all this. He was so thin and bony. When he started school the school nurse was so concerned about him. They provided all us poor kids a half pint of milk a day....free of charge. With Clarence they supplied him with chocolate supplement called Bosco.. It was full of vitamins as well as calories. Milk in our house was only for coffee or on cereal...but Clarence got the milk with Bosco every day. Mom and Pop were so worried about him and hoped this was the answer. He took it for a long time but didn't gain an ounce. In fact he seemed to be getting worse and was getting very irritable.About that time Mom noticed that all the boys underwear were disappearing. She questioned us all but no one had an answer. Winter came and one day I heard the most beautiful sound, the sound of coal being delivered. This meant heat!! Pop built a big fire in the furnace and can remember Mom sitting on a radiator, bundled in a coat, waiting for the first heat of the season. Soon the house was warming up and with it the worst God awful smell coming from all the radiators. She started investigating and found all the boys missing underwear, wrapped tightly and hidden behind the radiators. All were full of crap!!! Poor Clarence had gotten diarrhea from the Bosco and was ashamed to tell anyone so he hid the dirty underwear behind the radiators. Hello to the underwear and goodbye to the Bosco!As I said, he was very irritable and would run through the house slamming doors.... especially the back door. Slam and away he would run! When company came we all knew what to expect. He would be outside, open the back door and scream the foulest language any one would ever hear. Every word in the book. Then he would slam the door and away he would run....he could run like a deer. Those skinny legs would pump for all they were worth!But he could be one of the sweetest kids in the world. He and Pop were very close and Clarence seemed to Idolize Pop. When Pops car came up the driveway, Clarence went running to the car with his arms outstretched and Pop would pick him up.Remember that going to and from the beach we were always looking for new tar on the roads. This was such fun to chew on. One day I had Clarence with me and coming home {barefoot of course} we spotted some and Clarence ran for it......Before I could stop him he was on boiling hot newly laid tar and my God did he scream. I grabbed him and put him on my back and carried him home. By the time we got home the soles of his feet were nothing but huge blisters. Mom and Pop took over and whatever they did soothed him but for days he could not walk. Poor kid. I felt so sorry for him. Of course as soon as possible it was back to the beach.Soon he began filling out and lost that prisoner of war look. He also became calmer and really a nice kid to know. He had many friends.

In California he completed high school...the only one in the family to do so. He was so proud and so handsome. I was at the ceremony so proud of him in his cap and gown and I grabbed him and hugged and kissed him. He was shocked!!! Another first in our family of no-kissers, non-huggers. To show affection was a sign of weakness it seemed.

We all know the beautiful Margie he married

Irene

Family photo taken 1996 at family reunion

Look What Two People Did

I guess that's Love!