I have an extreme fondness for Bud and Mary Thorpe, my house parents at Choate. I was also close with John and Bernita Terry my house parents at the Mass cottage. I was a fairly troubled young man and credit my social worker with "saving me". I'll never forget the day she drove me to Buffalo, N.Y. and dropped me off at college, we both cried as though we were son and mother. I look at those people as surrogate parents at a time when I needed it most. I am fairly sure that Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe have passed - I say that with a heavy heart - I would certainly like to hear of or from any of those aforementioned folks above regardless.
Many, Many times over the years, I have thought of the times, experiences, and people at GJR. It's odd but some of those memories are so clear, concise, and meaningful. I say odd because memories of my homelife, family, and friends prior to GJR are kind of hazy, forgettable, and uncomfortable. I never realized it at the time, going there probably saved me from a horrible life. I was certainly headed for prison. I can't offer up the rest of my life, since that time as a "success testimonial" for GJR. It was not for any lack of trying by all those people, experiences, and philosophies. I left in great shape and the world was literally "mine for the taking". The next 15 years were noted by many, many pitfalls. In a sentence I can sum that up as anguish over my early childhood, and from drug and alcohol addiction.
Over the years I had chance meetings, aquaintenships, and phone calls from several other residents from GJR. I actually followed a close friend, Anthony "Chip" Lombardo to Daemen college in Buffalo. I would certainly like to hear of or from him. I would really be interested in hearing of or from most of the residents [who attended the Republic] during my stay there. I felt I was pretty well liked and felt likewise.
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