This is too beautiful not to share. These come from the Boston Globe website, two days after the Sox have won the series. Mine, #2, and #27 inspired me to include these here...
Sox playoffs board
Folder: On the front burner
Discussion: Tributes to those who have passed ...
#1 10:33 AM From: BostonDotCom To: ALL
What relative or friend passed away before they saw the Sox win the Series ... tell us about them and their devotion to this team.
#2 10:43 AM From: KYSoxFan To: BostonDotCom
Here's a story that I sent to another subject. I blogged it just after the Sox won the World Series.
http://gesser.blogspot.com/2004/10/have-you-ever-recognized-workings-of.html
#3 11:45 AM From: patstag To: BostonDotCom
For my grandmother. When I came home from school she would be in the kitchen ironing and I would help her and we would watch the Sox together - or listen to them on the radio.
For my mother, who was an avid sports fan and probably never missed a game of any of our four sports teams and who really showed me how much fun they all were.
For my friend Ike, a season ticket holder for years - two of the great loves of his life were the Red Sox and the 27th Lancers. Hard to believe he didn't have something to do with the Sox winning on the 27th.
#4 11:47 AM From: pooh To: BostonDotCom
My grandfather was a fan... he loved New England and its teams... we'd watch all of the games together growing up, my grandfather and I.
He passed away Labor Day 2001...
#5 11:54 AM From: taig To: BostonDotCom
1) My Grandfather who had a heartattack watching in 75 and died before the start of the 86 season. He was 8 when the Sox won it back in '18. He can sleep easy now.
2) My Uncle Mac who watched every game on television with my Aunt M. May he rest in peace.
3) My Uncle K who was a die ahrd fan and passed away only a couple years ago. req in pacem
For all the others of my family who have come in gone in 86 years as well..
#6 11:59 AM From: tim850csi To: BostonDotCom
To my cousin in law Rich, a avid Sox Fan who died of cancer in 96 and to his beloved wife and my cousin Melissa who died in September of 2003, a day after seeing The Boss play at Fenway, I will be thinking of you both while watching the boys of summer parade down Boylston on Saturday.
#7 12:04 PM From: Sakos To: BostonDotCom
This is for two wonderful people.
My father Peter who passed away in 1987. He was a life long fan and rarely missed a game by radio or T.V. Some of my fondest recollections are the muted sounds of the game from an AM radio while he listened to the game with one of those old fashioned single ear pieces.
My cousin Judy died just two weeks ago. She loved the Red Sox and those of us who love her, know she's up there smiling.
#8 12:12 PM From: ari_foley To: BostonDotCom
My grandfather was a die-hard Red Sox fan. In fact, while he and my grandmother lived in North Ft. Myers, FL, he got a job at City of Palms Park. I have his "Staff" shirt to this day. He took tickets at the gate. Even though he never got to see the Red Sox win a World Series on Earth, I know he's in heaven cheering them on!
#9 12:16 PM From: Bacca To: BostonDotCom
This win was for my father who passed away from pancreatic cancer on November 14th, 2003. He was the biggest Sox fan I had ever known and I truly believe the ‘03 playoffs kept him going. After Game 7 on that faithful night, he turned for the worse.
During the 2003 series a neighbor wrote Larry Luchino (also a cancer survivor), regarding my dad’s health and how much it would mean to him, to us all, if he could just get to one game. Though tickets never arrived and my dad passed away soon after the off season began, a letter came from Mr. Luchino a few weeks later.
He explained how he had gone through cancer and was pulling for my dad to win his battle. He was so uplifting in his message, saying he hoped to see my dad in the stands next season, and that next year is THE year. The letter was immediately framed and hung in my brother’s home.
I never thought I would be saying this, but the Curse of the Bambino is one of the best things to ever happen to . Though no one realized it until Wednesday night, the Curse brought families together. The Curse is why I cried after seeing the Sox receive the trophy. It wasn’t the World Series title, it was knowing my dad would have given anything to see this last year...
I love you Chief!
Bacca
Cancer Survivor
#10 12:16 PM From: ZootInNH To: BostonDotCom
My maternal grandfather, whom I called Dziadziu (Polish for grandfather) is surely smiling from above at this week's turn of events. He, along with my parents. took me to my first major league game, a Red Sox-Kansas City Athletics doubleheader in the spring of 1964. Most easygoing man I ever knew...save for one night when my brothers and I were staying at his house. We were listening to the Sox game on the radio as we were falling asleep, when Bob Tillman's attempt to throw out an opposing base stealer nailed pitcher John Wyatt in the head! My then 9 year old mind thought that was the funniest thing that ever happened in the world of sports, and I started laughing uncontrollably. Dziadziu immediately picked up on this and roared in a manner totally out of his character "THAT'S NOT FUNNY THAT'S NOT FUNNY!!!". Extremely nice and gentle man, but you DIDN'T mess with his Red Sox....
#11 12:16 PM From: schillingfan To: BostonDotCom
My dad was born in 1919 and he died in 1982. We watched together in 1975, and when I went through a rebellious stage and rooted for the Yankees, he didn't talk to me for a whole week.
I know he's up there smiling now.
#12 12:18 PM From: dinademaio To: BostonDotCom
This one was for my Nana, who sat beside me in 1986, waiting to cheer for her team. She died without ever having seen them win.
Also for my grandfather, who was buried in 2002 with a Red Sox schedule in his pocket.
And finally, for my father, who is healthy as a horse, but who let me stay up late on my birthday to see Carlton Fisk's home run in the wee hours of October 22, 1975.
Dina DeMaio
#13 12:19 PM From: roofgirl To: BostonDotCom
To my Grandpa, who came here when he was 14 in 1912 and became a die-hard Red Sox fan. He got to see them win back then and he watched faithfully until he died in 86 before that other World Series. My fondest memories are hot summer days with Grandpa watching the Red Sox. Being Italian he especially loved Rico. I'll never forget watching the end of 1978 playoff game together. We were so upset.
To Pat, who was also a lifelong Sox fan. When you visited her and the Sox were on you had to watch the game with her. She just loved them.
#14 12:22 PM From: DaPats To: BostonDotCom
I remember in 1986 when they lost. My 76 year old grandfather stood up and said, "Well, that was the last chance I had at seeing them win it all." He passed away 6 years later in 1992. My grandmother passed away a couple of years ago never seeing them it all either. My father in-law passed away this summer also never seeing them win it. Well Papa, Nana and Walter I know you all were watching from up above. They did it!!!!!!
#15 12:23 PM From: DFC101 To: BostonDotCom
This is a double tribute.
I was ten years old during the summer of 1967, when two major events unfolded: the Impossible Dream team was marching toward a pennant and my father was dying. Both seemed completely improbable. For any Red Sox fan at that time the idea of a pennant was about as credible as an invasion from Mars, and the loss of my father, well...I still don't think I believe that one.
We were the first family on the block to get a color TV and my mother set up a bed in our living room so my Dad could take his one comfort of convalescing, watching the Sox. Not that watching the Sox was ever good for one's health, but you understand.
He lasted until Septmber 1, by which time you couldn't find the daylight between Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota in the standings. Our family went through the funeral in the grief-haze you might expect...a blur of mysterious aunts and uncles from all over and neighbors and kids and no time to really talk. New Englanders aren't good at that anyway, and my mother was a sudden widow with four little ones and school was starting in a few days and we all had our agenda, and we all just kept going. Against this suddenly-surreal backdrop, making it surreal to the whole world, the Sox looked like they might actually win, and to make the whole word completely unreal, they did.
Part two of the story: what was it, the 8th or so, when they clinched? We lived in Peabody at the time, and several of the players lived there too. Everyone my age knew where Rico and Mike Andrews and all the guys hid away while the team was in town. So being a kid and not realizing that the eyes of the whole country were on them it made perfect sense to me, on the day after the biggest day in their careers, to go to the door of the manager, Dick Williams, and ask him for an autograph.
I knocked as my friends huddled on the stairs of the apartment, out of sight and probably expecting that I'd be thrown bodily off Williams' doorstep. He answered the door himself. And he signed an elaborate autograph with an inscription for me, and shook my hand. I don't remember what, if anything, I said. I hope I thanked him.
It didn't occur to me until much later what an interruption that was, and how he'd have been perfectly correct to tell me never to do that again. It never occured to him--it couldn't have--that the kid standing on his doorstep that morning was mourning the loss of his father and reaching out to any man decent enough to stand there and shake his hand. I was just one more little boy. And he was a hero being nice.
Wherever Williams managed after that, I always made sure to write him and wish him well and remind him of that story. I have inscribed photos of him in a Sox uniform, and with the As and the Expos and even the Yankees. And a signed ball. I hope he makes it into the Hall at last not only for his achievements on the field but for that moment and what it gave me.
Dad, they did it at last. Dick, congratulations to you for '67, for starting the long march to the flag, and for being a gracious gentleman. I never forgot.
#16 12:23 PM From: TmC To: BostonDotCom
My Friend Brian passed away a couple of months ago, he never understood how much he meant to everybody. I could always count on him being at my house when I got home watching the sox with my husband (at that time) and monopolizing the TV with it, he never missed a game. I believe he helped the sox in some manner this year along with everybody else everyday! You are very missed Brian!
#17 12:29 PM From: bostnbirdybu To: BostonDotCom
For my mom, who had planned on traveling around the country with my dad this summer to see the Sox play in other cities
For my good friend Jay Burgeson, who was murdered in Providence 4 years ago. He was in college in MN in 1999 when the Sox went to the playoffs, and he came all the way home to watch the games here with other Sox fans.
#18 12:29 PM From: dkenney To: BostonDotCom
My grandfather, Tony Meleski, talked tirelessly about the Red Sox. He died four years ago on October 23, the same date of the 2004 World Series opener in Fenway Park.
Grampie, this one is for you!
#19 12:32 PM From: hefc To: BostonDotCom
My Great Grandfather, Herman Streeter, was a lifetime Red Sox fan. He witnessed (not in person) their win in 1918 & always held out hope that they would do it again before he died but alas, he did not make it dying in 1990.
We watched or listened to every game & drove my Great Grandmother crazy with the noise ;-) He & my Dad would often sit together & discuss the ups & downs of the current team. The last question he asked before passing was whether or not the Sox had won that day. When my Aunt answered "Yes" he died a happy man. And I know he's up there smiling right now too!
#20 12:33 PM From: Doc_Leos_kid To: BostonDotCom
My father and best friend in the world, you may know him Dr Leo from the Cape was the biggest Sox fan. We would sit listening to the games night after night. Doc passed away Dec 2000 and never got to see the Sox win the series. It really makes me sad to think that. Congrats to Curt and all the boys.
#21 12:35 PM From: Chrysler To: BostonDotCom
For Grandma, who used to subscribe to NESN in April and cancel it in October, just so that she could watch the Red Sox. She was seven years old and still in Ireland when they won in 1918, but after coming to Boston in 1930 she was a huge fan. She passed away in 2002.
For Nana, who was also a huge fan. When I was in college and living in town, I'd take the subway over to visit her in Charlestown at her apartment and we'd watch the games together. She died in 2000.
For Uncle Dick, who died this past April at age 65, who never saw the Red Sox win a World Series. He was another great fan, and took me to one of my first games when I was a kid. When they beat the Yankees to win the AL title, my family went to visit his grave and put a baseball on it that said "Go Sox!"
Rest in peace,
Michael
#22 12:37 PM From: sealepe To: BostonDotCom
For my Father, Richard (Dick) Seale who passed away last July at age 60 from Diabetes. If only he had lived to see his beloved Red Sox win the World Series. Here is an article my Aunt wrote about him and his love for the Red Sox in his last moments. It was published in the Daily News Tribune up in Mass.
Seale: Can the Sox repay a fan's devotion?
By Rosalyn S. Seale / Guest Columnist for the Daily News Tribune
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Dick Seale was born in Boston, but spent the majority of his youth and all his high school years in West Newton. An avid Red Sox fan, he would take the T (then the MTA and the old Watertown trolley line) into Fenway Park to sit in the bleachers (75 cents to get in) and watch his beloved Red Sox play.
Dick moved to New Jersey, married and raised a family, but never gave up his love of the Boston teams. He was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 2 and the illness took its toll on him. Through his two heart by-pass surgeries and the amputation of both legs, Dick never lost his spirit.
In the summer of 2002 on a trip home to visit family, number one on his "to do" list was getting tickets to the Sox. On two prostheses he trudged across the parking lot from the Beacon Street side into Fenway Park to cheer on the Sox. I don't know if the Sox won or lost, but you could probably hear his cheers out on the Mass Pike.
Complications of his illness had him on thrice weekly dialysis, and rendered him so weak he could barely get around. His spirit remained. Hospitalized in New Jersey last month with an infection that took the rest of one leg, he was still fighting to survive. On Saturday, the 26th of July he was sedated for his pain after the surgery. In his intensive care room the TV played the Sox game -- we hoped that Dick was somehow watching. When the Sox beat the Yankees, he managed to open his eyes and his oldest daughter told him they had won. With his left arm -- the only limb he could still move -- he gave a salute to the Sox.
Dick gave up his fight and passed away at 3:40 a.m. on July 27 at the age of 60. The Sox still had another game against the Yankees that night -- they won. We'd like to think they did it for Dick as a last request.
Can we hope that this will be the year we finally win the World Series? If so, I'd like to think it was in honor of one of their most loyal fans -- Dick Seale.
Dick Seale's sister Rosalyn S. Seale is senior vice president of Proctor & Company in Natick.
#23 12:39 PM From: MB9 To: BostonDotCom
This Red Sox's World Series win was for my grandfather "Chuckie". He was the biggest Red Sox's fan I ever knew. He was such a big fan we waked and buried him with his Red Sox's hat on and a picture of Fenway Park by his side. He never missed a game even when he was in intensive care we had it on the radio for him to listen. Chuckie wasn't able to see them win as he passed away this past July 23, 2004. But I know in my heart that he somehow helped them get to this win, I also know he is celebrating with a beer or two.
#24 12:41 PM From: cmderinchief To: BostonDotCom
This is just a small note to recognize my long departed great-aunt Amy. She religiously listened to every Sox game until her death in the '90s. As her hearing got worse, the rest of the neighborhood heard the game too! :-) I vividly remember a spiral notebook with her homemade line scores of each game. She had line scores acrcived since the 40's. Even though I am a flatlander by birth.....I have always been a Sox fan, albeit marred in the middle of Cubs and Reds country. For this, Amy made a point to bequeath me her Sox stuff which is hanging in my office as I type this.
I suspect that Halloween will be a quite one in New England. A lot of spirits can finally rest!
#25 12:41 PM From: Lucille To: BostonDotCom
This message is for Ma...... They finally did it and my thoughts were with you the whole series... Ma went to one game and had to leave early because she felt that if she watched continually they would lose.... so she would sit in front of the TV if they were losing she would go to the other room say a rosary and then come back ..... THEY HAVE FINALLY WON THE SERIES and your grandchildren and Papa were thinking of you and smiling..... Ma was an true RED SOX fan and those who were not a fan became one after they sat and watched a game with her..... Marty Fair can attest to that........ Well GO SOX........and THANKS for bringing back all the wonderful memories of our loved ones who look on from above.....
#26 12:44 PM From: joplinspig To: BostonDotCom
My mother, Madaline, lived her entire life between Red Sox World Series wins, so she never experienced the thrill of victory. She told me 1000 times that when she was a little girl, she would listen to the games on the radio, and cry when they lost. As soon as our first baseman tagged the Cardinal's runner out, I thought to myself, "They won, Ma!"
#27 12:45 PM From: 2blv2wn To: BostonDotCom
yesterday I was waiting in a very long line for World Champion t-shirts. This man in front of me was probably in his late 80's. As He Got to the front of the line he asked for 4 " Now I can die in Peace" T-shirts. He then told us that later that day he was going to visit graves of his buddies who were lifelong fans that never got to see this day. The t-shirts were for the headstones.
My eyes well up every time I picture this man. He was so passionate. So proud that he could do this for his friends. So proud that we was able to witness this.
#28 12:46 PM From: lgibbs1446 To: BostonDotCom
My husband Bob died unexpectedly in Fort Myers, Florida in 2002. We were there to watch the Red Sox play in spring training. Bob was born in Brighton, Massachusetts and had been a Red Sox fan all his life The Red Sox won the World Series on what would have been his seventy second birthday. That was a wonderful gift.
My stepfather Harlow died this year on October 16. When I spoke to my mother the next day, her first words were, ' As if yesterday wasn't bad enough, the Red Sox lost 19-8.' We buried my stepfather on the day the Sox won the ALCS and feel he had something to do with that win.
#29 12:48 PM From: mel1966 To: BostonDotCom
My father was a devoted fan of the Sox. He would faithfully sit in front of the television and watch them in his old winged back chair. He would call them bums when they would lose, but he would never lose faith that someday they would win, win it all. In fact, he was almost a Sox player himself back in the '40's. He coached my brother's little league teams. He even taught me how to throw a baseball, and I wasn't too bad for a girl. The year he died (1996), two of my brothers took him to Cooperstown to enjoy the memoribilia of a lifetime of being a baseball fan, but most importantly a Sox fan. He probably would have cried the night they finally won. This is for you, Dad.
#30 12:48 PM From: scmurph To: BostonDotCom
My father-in-law was a life long Red Sox fan and had season tickets for a few years when my husband was young. He passed away this past April. Among his keepsakes we have a scrapbook he made when he was 14 years old of the 1947 Red Sox season. It has every article from the Boston newspapers regarding the team right down to the last game that year in the World Series with the Cardinals. It has an introduction page, handwritten by him when he made it, about what it was and why he was making it and throughout the scrapbook he has annotations with his feelings about the team. The best entry is one of the games the Sox lost during the World Series that year. It is an otherwise blank page that says something to the effect that it was too painful to even comment on it. He has programs and everything stuffed in this book. It's about 6 inches thick. How ironic that this year the Red Sox beat the Cardinals. We are taking the covers and articles from yesterday's newspapers and adding them to the back of the scrapbook. My mother-in-law stayed with us Wed. night to watch the game. The end of the game was a tearful moment in more ways than one, but we believe that he was watching too.
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