Ronald Podeschi
Betty & Family, I lost contact in recent years; and just learning about Stephen sparked an emotional jolt and a mindful of memories.
Stephen & I met in 1956 at Fort Huachuca when both of us were recent draftees, He was carrying the New York Times puzzle, which I had never heard of. Despite quite different backgrounds, our friendship developed quickly. When his parents came to visit him, he invited me to join them for dinner. Stephen & I climbed a mountain near the Fort, we escaped to Tucson when we could; and when our company went to the atomic-testing grounds in Nevada for five months, we invaded nearby Las Vegas on weekends.
You'll remember, Betty, when decades later, you & Ste[hen drove to Wisconsin for a reunion with Phyllis & I at our Lake Michigan home, and later my visiting you in CT.
I trusted Stephen like a brother. But it was difficult to keep our friendship fresh as age and distance take over. But I never forgot to be grateful our friendship that developed near the Arizona-Mexico border.
Ron Podeschi