On December 18th, 1958, four days after my nineteenth birthday and one week before Christmas, my Father’s life was cut short by an act of violence. My Dad was forty-eight years old, an attorney who did pro bono work with Polish immigrants, a loving family man, respected community leader and active participant in charitable and church causes. He was a positive influence on everyone with whom he had contact.
The perpetrator of the crime was a troubled eighteen year old who had spent his early years in correctional facilities and foster homes. He was out that night for the thrill of the kill. The criminal was apprehended, tried, convicted and sentenced to twenty years in prison (the maximum penalty for his crime). He could have gotten a death sentence, but was spared because of his age and the circumstances of his past. He was given a “chance” to turn his life around. But instead, after serving his time, he went on to commit multiple other crimes and became a serial killer.
In October of 2014 a book was published chronicling the killer’s life and crimes. It was written by a retired NJ State trooper and was diligently researched and written with great detail. The first chapters of the book told about his first victim, my father, and what a wonderful life had been ended while such an evil life had been spared. It went on to describe the horrors that came of his having been given a “chance”.
I resolved to write my father’s life story so that his legacy would not be relegated to the first chapters of a book about his killer, to honor his memory and tell the world what a great person he was. I’ve done a lot of preparation and planning for this task, taken courses, studied tutorials and read “How To” books and guidelines, but now it is time to GET IT DONE—enough procrastinating in search of perfection. This is my mission.
I intend to have the book ready for publication by April 30th, my Father’s birthday. I am also in the process of scanning all of the photos and articles that had been moved with us each time we relocated and were either stored in the attic or buried in the basement until I began this project. My blog on the 15th of each month will tell of my progress with the project. I welcome your comments, advice and good wishes. I’ll keep you posted.
Estelle