Memories for Richard R Sucietto...that's you.

I wanted to get you something for Christmas that you may not have. I wanted to give you something that may help you down the road. I do not know if you need this or want this but I am giving you a few memories.

You were born in 1928 to John and Mary Sucietto. You lived most of your early life on Stanhope Ave in Cheviot. You had three brothers; John, Tom, and Cliff, as well as a sister Mary Clare. You married a Cheviot girl named Barbara Schaefers and were married for 63 years before she passed in January of 2014. You have six children who you always referred to by nick-names rather than their given names: Kathy, Sally, Rick {me}, Jim, Debby, and Dan. This, in a nutshell, is what people can find out about you if they go to the library or by looking you up on any computer. I would like to tell you what I know about you, which may or may not help if someday you doubt who you really are.

You are Dick, by God, Sucietto. Stronger than myth, larger than life. Catholic, conservative, hard, true, and steadfast. Your children's upbringing was for your wife, the discipline and few permissions were doled out by you. You never met a day that you didn't feel was complete without something getting accomplished. You were, in a nutshell, a hard nut to crack but when you laughed you usually laughed so hard you cried. You snuck away to visit many a child in the hospital when you thought no one was looking.

You, Richard Sucietto, will be remembered as the following: a fighter, Catholic, mechanic, athlete, head of the house, laborer, hunter, musician, thinker, marine, accomplished whistler, creator, coach, woodworker, gardner, vintner, chemist, grave digger, equestrian, arborist, lover of animals, plants and children (better they be little children). A conservative steward of money, a trickster, a believer of what is right, good and holy, son, brother, and husband. Those that were close new you as Brother. I say "were close" as you are the last of the Mohicans.The majority of your tribe, or band of merry men, have gone to the other side, be it good or bad. You have fought the good fight and are left with only their names and a few memories...Dink, Mac, Bopper, Moon Collins, Whitey, Bob Miller, Stan (your father-in-law who you admired and respected), Len, Woody, Pete, Clem, Al and many, many, more.

You have mellowed over the years and will be rememebered as a good, loving, and caring man. Know this Richard (Dick) Sucietto, I for one will never forget this life you have given me and the journey we have travelled. I will continue to pray that God knows what he is in for.

Love, your son Richard (Rick) Roy Joseph Sucietto II