Roger Uliano

That was a beautiful obituary, but to truly know Roger was to love him. Roger was my hero when I was a young boy growing up in Brooklyn. We loved and enjoyed the same things in life. I always looked foward to Roger coming to visit during the summer, he always came in July, right around his birthday. When he arrived in Brooklyn, everyone knew he was in town because there was always some old- fashioned car with (Land of Lincoln) 'Illinois' license plates on it. One time he fooled us and arrived with a 1968 MG Midget, "that sneak". Roger always called me in the morning to either go to the beach or to go fishing, he knew I loved the ocean. In the late afternoon we would go to Sheepshead Bay ( our fishing community) to see what the boats were catching. That is the first place that I ate raw clams and oysters, Roger told me to just put them to my mouth and let them slide down my throat. Obviously if you know me, I listened to him and became hooked on mollusks, till today whenever I eat them, I think of Roger. His idea of a perfect day in N.Y. was getting a good tan, going out to eat clams or oysters, then going home to shower and change clothes, and head to N.Y.C. to hangout in The Village. He loved to look at all of the different types of people and whisper remarks in my ear so he could make me crack up laughing. I remember the time he came 'home' driving a blue 1949 Chevy convertible, he honked the horn and told me to come shopping with him. He loved to buy clothes at the local mall here, 'King's Plaza'. He could spend a whole day trying on clothes to wear for the summer, I remember he once spent $200 in one day. That was alot of money in 1973. When we left the mall that day, we were on the highway when roger pulled the '49 chevy over and asked me if I wanted to drive, needless to say, I was the only 14 year old boy to be driving on the highway in a '49 chevy convertible. He made me promise not to tell anyone, and I never did until now. My life consisted of many firsts when Roger was in town, driving, eating clams, gutting fish, car tune- ups, smoking cigars, hanging out in the Village drinking esspresso looking at all of the girls passing by. Roger once said to me he enjoyed being with me because I was like a student to him, he was a great teacher. He liked to see me smile and hear me laugh.... when I was supposed to be quiet. Roger had a great laugh, and always had an evil grin and sparkling eyes. He acted like the quiet one, but he was the instigator, and he loved playing the role. He told me of the times he got into rock fights when he was growing up and other mischievous things that he did, I was sworn to secrecy, and even though he's no longer with us, I'll never tell. I know he's watching and listening, and if I tell, he'll find a way to get even...He knows I love him too much. Just like the time his father passed away, he had to identify my uncle's body, but his legs gave way. I grabbed him under his arm and we both identified his father. There are too many personal things about his life with his parents, and his brother Vincent that should not be made public. Only our closest relatives know the stories, and it will remain that way. Roger is one of the strongest people I know, not just physically, but mentally. The problems he survived in his life would have put anyone else in a hospital a long time ago. That is why I find it so hard to believe he's gone, everything just snowballed all at once, and I guess his fortitude just wore thin over the years. I recently joked with him about how childish it is for a grown man to go out and play cowboys and indians with his friends, but you know him, forever the historian. Too many nights we spent talking about life, death,and family. It always turned into philosphy, and his eyes widened and twinkled when holding a deep conversation. I'll miss those alone times we had, much the same way that I'll miss the alone times I shared with my other cousins. I learned so much from my family in my life. Even though I was younger than some of them, I've never forgotten the good times we've had in our lives. As life goes on, people seem to grow apart, but we always have memories, some of which I will cherish for the rest of my life. As for you Roger, I will always remember the way that you schooled me during my most formative years. May God rest your soul, and bless you. I'll love you forever my cousin, "REST IN PEACE"