[Geewiz]

My Papa -- the man who raised me and was technically my step-grandfather lived until he was 101. He died in 2010 - just after my divorce (a bad year - my music partner died from ALS that year, also).

Papa lived many lives. He was of Russian Jewish stock. He was kicked out of his home at 16 for shacking up with a 22 year old divorcee. He went to live with his uncle who was in the fish business. His uncle sent him to Sitka Alaska to work on a fishing boat. Papa came back and sold herring to Jewish businesses throughout Chicago.

During the war he was sent back to the Alaska where he was wounded by a Japanesse bomber.

After the war, he opened his own smokehouse and store. His best friend was Lenny Patrick - a Jewish member of the Outfit and a well known hit man (Jack Ruby worked for him).

He rescued me from my divorced parents (who kept kidnapping me back and forth) by saying he'd have Lenny kill them both if they continued to mess with me. Papa took me in and raised me as his son.

By the late 80's Papa sold his business. We toured Europe together. I remember us renting bicycles at Versaiilles and touring the grounds. He biked fast.

A year later he drove to LA and did what every retired fish guy does - he went to work for a movie special effects company. He became friends with Martin Scorsese. He travelled to Hawaii and Nola. He lived well.

When his body started to fail he raged. Death was a relief - it freed his soul. I miss Papa.