This is in answer to Connie (Nucito) Spinella message #5389. I only found this site about 2 weeks ago, and am reading all of the notes.

My cousins were the Corcorans on King Street. Irene (married to Sonny) Sonny died quite a few years ago, Irene remarried (I did not know the new husband) Irene is also gone. Her sister Rose (married to George), both dead. Rose died this past year.

Do you remember the brother Eddie. He was a career Navy Man and when retired stayed in Calif. Met his about 10 years ago at a Family Reunion in New Orleans. He's also gone now.

I was a little younger than my cousins and didn't hang out with them, but always enjoyed them. In the early 50s my crowd from 2nd Street swam in Coffee Dock and knew the Sweeneys on Coffee Street.

I am really enjoying this site.

IRENE (McDONALD) LEONTI

Sorry, one of the things I forgot to mention was that I went to Visitation of the BVM between the years of 1956 thru December 1962 when I was 12 years old. This year I will be 60.

I just read some of the posts and it really does bring back some old memories of which I have a few. I went to VBVM until the 7th grade when my parents moved to Ridgewood N.Y. Some of my classmates were, Joseph Affe (his dad, Sal, owned the store on Van Brunt St.), Philip A. Vanaria, Joseph Bogacki, Ralph Persico, Ray Viola, Theresa Nespoli, Maryann Greco (who lived on King St.) and Theresa Nicolls. I actually lived in the projects on the corner of Columbia and Lorraine. Some other who lived in the projects were Robbie Zambino and his sisters Susan and Vicky. Also, Bobby Bracero and his brother Ventura (Junior) and Ray Viola along with his sister Rosie. There are so many others that I just can't remember but they were definitely the greatest days of my youth until I was 12.

Can anyone give me some info on Two Tom's Restaurant?

Hi Turk:

No, I never lived on 3rd Place and Court. That was my cousins, the other McDonalds. Margaret McDonald (my best friend cousin) married Mickey Prendergast (who bartended in Hanleys) and they stayed in the neighborhood. My godchild, Karen Conroy, tolde me who you are just before you told me. It's a small world. I was a little older than your Aunt Ann and once in a while we let her hang out with us.Good bringing out all these old memories.

I did meet your sister Maryann when I was up for Flossie's wake.

Tell your mother that I see your cousin and mine Dorrie Flynn quite often down here in FL.

Take care.

Irene McDonald Leonti

Hello Big Ben Butler:

Thanks for the info on red hair. I wish I would have known about the pink color before, I met an old acquaintance and he had the same color red hair as you did, but when I saw him I thought he had dyed his hair and that was the color it came out pinkish. You mentioned a girl with red hair, perhaps you meant my friend Loretta from the Project. She was a friend of Marie Wilson from the point. By the way, my mother had red hair.

Take care.

Loretta

Ruthie,

I meant the bad one, "DiMatteo.

Loretta

Hello old friend Ruthie:

Just plugged in to the site, was out sick for a while. Ruthie you didn't smoke did you? Playing in the snow was great when we were young, but it's not fun anymore. I wish I could see some familar faces, I know I would recognize them. I speak to Susan L sometimes but have not gotten together with her yet.
She is still so secretive. I don't think anyone lives in NY anymore. Too bad I moved in Oct of 56 we would have had more good times. I don't think you know him, but I see Anthony Gimatteo, of all things, he lives in my neighborhood. I am rarely there so I haven't seen him for about a year, I hope he is okay. He was the good one,
Anthony was the you know what.

Love Loretta,

did anyone know gertrude,florence or harold doyle from redhook?

did anyone ever hear a rumor about albert anastasia having an illegitimate son who worked on the docks?

Hi Everybody

At last Spring is in the air my favorite time of year.
Thinking back to my childhood in Red Hook I can't belive how many bars we had. Red Hook was such a small area and it seemed we had an enormous amount of bars. Lets see if we can remember them all. Here are the ones I remember. Doughertys,Barry and Bumford,Tony Ciro,White Rose,Biancies,Bud and Packies,Gabes,Pimpinellas. That is all the ones I can remember the names of. Lets see if you can think of some more.

Re: 5519

My oldest brother was an Altar Boy thruout the 40ths until he joined the seminary in 1950. Fr. Keane was well liked by Jimmy. Another priest from the 40ths was Fr Galloway.

Fr. Mahoney did the Pastoring work for Fr. Sexton who illness was well known to all in the parish. This probably led to his rather abrupt and standoffish behavior, particularly towards the teenagers.

Visitation was a poor parish and was on its way to going further down hill when Fr Mahoney was stuck.

The new convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph was an attempt to make V-BVM a little bit more platable for these poor sisters.

I cannot imagine that duty at V-BVM was welcomed by the nuns or the parish priests back in the 50ths.

I remember St. Geraldine. I think I had her in the last 6 months in St. Marys. Graduated in 1950. Had Sr. Margaret before in 8 A. Remember, Sr. Bernardine. She was so holy and nice.

Irene McDonald Leonti

Hi Turk:

Knew your grandmother very well. She was not my aunt, but an aunt to all the Judges and Williams (who were my cousins) Know your mother, Marie, very well. How is she doing. I heard she had been sick. I lived on 2nd Street, across from Aunt Madge and up the street from the williams and the Judges.

Regards to all.

IRENE

No we didn't have any McDonalds named Bob. We had only a James. No cops. Uncles were cops, one being Eddie Corcoran from King Street.
Best regards,
IRENE

Irene, Was one of the McDonalds named Bob. I worked in the NYPD with Bob McDonald from the Hook. He was in the local K of C.

When I graduated from St. Mary's in 1950 the girls and boys departments were seperate; therefore, didn't know too many of the boys. I did not know Thomas Murphy, but thanks for asking.

Benny:
Here are some more cigarette slogans. How do you like the statement for L&M??
Pall Mall tobacco brand
Slogan: Pall Mall. Wherever particular people congregate

L&M brand
Ad slogan: L&M. Just what the doctor ordered

KOOL menthol cigarette brand
Marketing slogan: Kool. The House of Menthol
Mild, but not too light (for KOOL Mild)
Lady be Cool
Enjoy a cooler kind of mild.
Come all the way up to KOOL

Winston brand
Slogan: Winston tastes good like a cigarette should

I gave mine up in 67!! Started with Camels, which I could snitch from my Dad!!
Pat Garland

Graduated from St. Marys in 1950. Lived on 2nd Street between Smith & Hoyt. Enjoy reading all the info

I know Harry Judge owned a bar in Red Hook and he was related to the Pearsalls and Williams and they were all cops. Also, related to McDonalds.

I lived on 2nd St. between Smith & Hoyt and left there in 1956. I graduated from St. Mary's in 1950 and swam off the Coffee Street Pier.

Enjoy the info on this page.

Irene McDonald Leonti