PETE'S STORY

By Peter Vuono

  In September of 1973 when I stepped foot for the first time on the campus of Massasoit Community college, my attention was directed toward a young man who was brimming with charisma. Pete Murby of Raynham Mass. was born with severe cerebral palsy. It affected his arms. legs and speech. He gallantly got to class himself by pushing his wheelchair backwards with his one good leg.  The CP, however, did not affect his mind or his heart. I knew we'd become friends.

  Pete was always friendly, affable and convivial. He never once said anything negative about his disability or about other people. He was simply loved by all. After we became friends, we used to hang downstairs in the student union together. One day, I was working out on a universal machine and Pete asked me to show him the ropes.

  I sized up Pete's abilities and put him to work on the lat  machine. After about 3 or 4 sets Pete simply said with a bright smile, "I feel good"! That's all I needed in deciding to change my future major at Bridgewater State to Special Ed. Pete may have "felt good", but I got an incredible rush of accomplishment in helping someone after that very simple training session. He changed my life. After Bridgewater, I taught Special Ed. for a year in Pelham NH where I'd meet my future wife. I did a 34 year stint in the same discipline at Brockton High School. After retirement, I did 1.4 years of adapted Phys. Ed. at an elementary school and I've since spent the last ten years as a home teacher working with kids with a variety of needs.

  God knows I've made a miasma of mistakes that I'll always regret but I also had a lot of victories. It's Pete, however who deserves any accolade for these as it was he who was the prime catalyst in starting it all. God directed me through him.

  Pete spent the last year of his life in hospitals and rehab due to infections and later on cancer. When I visited him his attitude never changed. He was the same warm guy that I met in 1973; still inspiring guys like me to work through any adversity and teaching me to not let adversity get me down. He inspired to the end; never changing.

  Thanks to Presidents Ray DiPasquale and "Big" Bill Mitchell, a commemorative plaque was placed in the courtyard in Massasoit among the foliage there. It's right beside Pete's friend Professor Laura Yellen's plaque who refused bone marrow transplantation to give it to a younger person than she. Dozens walk by these plaques each day. Some never notice. Some look down and think nothing. I however look and see only a garden of inspiration  kindness and love. Thank you, Pete; I love you.

"The quality of life does not depend upon achievement. The quality of life depends upon love"- Pope Leo XIV

 JACK: A LESSON IN KINDNESS

By Peter Vuono

  The last course that I had to take  for my Master's Degree in 1983 was Music Theory offered by Dr. Jacob Liberles  at Bridgewater State College. I liked Dr. Liberles but he certainly knew how to make us work. We had to study classical music for hours. At the final, we'd listen to a piece and give the name of the author, title of the piece and WHERE EXACTLY in the piece we were listening. For example; Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" has, of course, 4 sections which are segmented into three parts per season. We had to name the title, author and which segment we were listening to.

  As if that weren't enough, Dr. Liberles had us perform a song on the piano EACH WEEK! He never asked us if we could read music or had a piano. We just had to do it! I was a bit dyslexic with reading music. I could do it, but I was slow. Ergo, I learned every song by ear. Even Dr. Liberles was surprised that I learned this way. In my final, however, I forgot the notes at about 85% finished. I was dejected but Dr. Liberles allowed me to retake the piano exam. This is where Jack comes in.

  Jack was a very husky, red headed baseball player from my hometown in Quincy. He probably could have played football but he was super easy going and friendly. During my re-take, Jack sat quietly awaiting HIS turn on the piano. I nailed it! While walking away, Jack displayed the "OK" gesture and whispered,"That was perfect!" I wasn't used to getting accolades from anyone at home and his comments have joyfully stuck with me my whole life. I never got to thank him. The philosopher Lao Tzu once said that,"Music in the soul is heard by the universe". How ironic it was that after making music, a friend would implant it in MY soul.

   One day, I will be gone, Jack will be gone and everyone that he and I know will be gone. However the beauty of that moment is this; God is eternal as is HIS memory. Every kind word made by Jack, me and all of humanity is tabulated and will greatly pay forward in the enormous dividend of everlasting happiness.What a wonderful thing that is for Jack, for me for, you and all humanity.

"There are three ways in which we should treat others; the first is to be kind, the 2nd is to be kind and the 3rd is to be kind"- Mother Teresa

"SHE PUTS ME TO SHAME."

Story by Peter Vuono

Title by Otto Frank.

Dedicated to Kate M.,  Tammy C.

and Joe Steinfeld- heroes all!

   On page 186 line 11, in the popular book,"Diary of Anne Frank, Otto Frank says this about his daughter Anne who had written the diary while she and her family hid in an attic in her father's building in Amsterdam from the Nazis from 1942-1944. Anne and her family were captured and she died while being held captive in Bergen-Belson concentration camp at age 15 from typhus. I saw the play in 1974 for the 1st time and when I see the medals depicted with this story, I, through the lives of my family members, remember Otto's statement. Anne had an amazing faith in love and humanity in spite of the cruelty reaped upon her, her family and her people. Anne was a German born Jewish girl. In her diary, Anne says, "Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again".

   When I look at the medals, I realize that they represent 3 world records of mine. I sometimes feel a little proud but not for long. Why? First, "pride" is the worst of the 7 deadliest sins. Secondly, I did very little to earn them and if world record medals are to go to anyone at this address they should be given to my wife who has undergone 6 operations and to the little girl sharing the photos with the medals.

   Lucy was born on Flag Day in 2021. For 3 years and 10 months of her life she was made to do all hygienic chores in a crate and to put forth at least two litters of puppies for a puppy mill. Just as amazingly, the cruel keepers of the mill belong to a religious sect who are usually purported to be people of peace and forgiveness. I didn't see it with Lucy.

   On both of her hind legs are two black scars(one frontally and one laterally), from a crate that was too small for her and her puppies. Thanks to her intrepid rescuer Kate- a 21st century Harriet Tubman- and her step mom- Tammy she was delivered to us and is truly the answer to our prayers. Like Anne Frank she is filled with nothing but love  and hope. She too, has maintained a love and faith in 

humanity.

  So when I periodically pass by these world record medals, I now smile; pride is gone. They don't belong to me; they belong to Lucy who deserves them so much more than I. She puts me to shame.

 TURNING ANGER INTO ART

By Peter Vuono

   Not long ago, a 17 year old from Pontiac Michigan gunned down 4 of his classmates and was sentenced to life in prison. What made this case unprecedented was the fact that both of the youth's parents were given 10-15 year prison terms for involuntary manslaughter. The court stated that there were multiple warnings that the boy would turn to violence and that his parents had ample opportunity to stop it.

   Shortly after  the 9/11 attacks, New York businessman Allen Kay coined a phrase that many now use-"If you see something, say something." Even the late congressman, Elijah Cummings used the phrase. I have no doubt, that those reading this would certainly be proactive about a potentially dangerous situation and alert the proper authorities whether it be by a stranger, friend or relative. However, this still leaves one with the question as to what one should do to keep a good kid on the strait and narrow path to peace and happiness. One theory is to ascertain what the youngster's passion is and encourage him or her to pursue it. In this way, a potentially dangerous thought or idea can be diverted into something good. Here are two exceptional examples of this with two individuals separated by nearly 150 years They could have chosen to be destructive but chose instead to channel their anger in another more positive way.

   Edgar Poe was born in  Boston in 1809.  He was abandoned by his father in 1810 and his mother died in 1811. He was taken in by his uncle John Allan who was strict and parsimonious. The young man would call himself Edgar Allan Poe. Poe entered the University of Virginia but dropped out after one year. While there he fell in love with and became engaged to Sarah Royster but for reasons unknown, they parted.

   He later entered the army and then on to West Point. He was exceptional at what he did and received the rank of lieutenant while there. It was at this time that he published his first book of poetry. Poe loved to gamble and he was constantly at odds over money with his uncle.  He then decided to write full time and by disobeying a few orders he was expelled from West Point.

  In 1836 he'd marry his  cousin Virginia Clemm. Virginia would die in 1847 from tuberculosis at age  24. Although he kept writing, Poe became entrapped in a world of disease, drugs and alcohol. He died in Baltimore at age 40. In spite of it, he had written some of the greatest Gothic Horror stories of all time such as "The Tell-tale Heart, "The Cask of amontillado", "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Fall of the House of Usher". 

  I'll not soon forget the looks of astonishment that my students projected as I read the "Cask of Amontillado" to them. Their eyes widened like half dollars as they listened to the account of the vengeful Montressor walling up the hapless Fortunato alive in a wine cellar. Many of Poes stories would make the silver screen and to this day are unsurpassed. Fast forward 149 years.

  To say that Frank Feranna Jr- born in 1958- was a recalcitrant would be an understatement. Raised by a single mom who soon abandoned him, he would live with his grandparents in Idaho. His sister, who had Down's Syndrome would pass away several years later. Frank became a bit of a "problem child". He vandalized neighbors' homes, shop lifted  and was expelled from school for selling drugs. He'd be sent back to his mom and raised in Seattle.

  Feranna would buy a bass guitar with the money from another guitar that he stole. He formulated  several bands and then with drummer Tommy Lee created Motley Crue. He would rename himself Nikki Sixx. They had a hit album with "Too Fast For Love" but with the added money came heroin addiction.

  One night after making merry in an LA club called the Rainbow Room, Sixx witnessed a woman being accosted by a biker with bad manners. He took off his studded belt and swung it hoping to ward of the attacker who was undaunted. A fight ensued and shortly after, two off duty policemen  got out of the car and mercilessly beat both the combatants with batons.

  Naturally, Sixx was angered but rather than doing something violent he wrote a song about this experience (Knock Em Dead Kid) which would be a hit number off his next album. In 1987, he overdosed and was clinically dead for two minutes. He was successfully revived and decided to dry out. He is now a father of 5 and 25 years clean.

  The point I'm trying to make here is that here are two men, one a writer and one a musician with horrible lives. However, instead of picking up a gun, a knife or some other weapon, they picked up a pen and a guitar pick and vented their angst and anger to something so positive that they both, in their own way, achieved greatness. What if we as friends, parents, and teachers try to observe a child's passion and direct them toward it. Poe and Sixx were lucky, they had no one but themselves to channel their passion. All the more reason why we as a community try to direct the younger generation to divert their angst and anger into art.

" In the heat of the night, you went and blackened my eyes. I'm back, I'm back , I'm back and I'm commin your way"--Nikki Sixx

 SIMON OF CYRENE

By Peter Vuono

    ON April 21, 2012, I had a heart attack. On the 25th, I received a quadruple bypass operation. The artery known as the "Widowmaker was 90% clogged! I was sent to Tufts medical and was assigned two brilliant thoracic surgeons- Dr. Afshin Ehsan now of RI Hospital and Dr. Mattheau Julien now of Texas.

   My doctors were so masterful that I was out of the hospital in a week and was lifting weights lightly two weeks after surgery. Two years after surgery I completed my Black Belt training and pulled a 400 deadlift in competition. I DESERVE NO ACCOLADE! Rather, it was the expertise of these two doctors that saved me along with God's grace and my prayers to Mary.

  Dr. Julien was like a medicinal "Batman". He would appear in my room in the middle of the night to watch over me. I never saw him arrive or leave but I remember his kindness. At this juncture it is important that I mention that Dr. Julein is African American . These two gifted physicians paved the way for me to continue to help my parents, my family and my future students and I'm forever grateful.

  Now, fast forward to 2025. The President's press secretary was quoted as saying in front of cameras and reporters the following:" When you are on an airplane with your loved ones which every one of us in this room has, do you pray your plane lands safely and gets you to your destination or do you pray that the pilot has a certain skin color?"

  I've noted that the secretary wears a cross but I'm afraid that her knowledge of what Cyrene was like in 33 AD isn't what she'd like it to be. Cyrene was an African country now called Libya. It's inhabitants were Black. Does anyone really think that it was a coincidence that the man conscripted to carry Christ's cross was Simon of Cyrene?  I think not and the texts of Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21 and Luke 23:26 would attest to this.

  Christ, even in his last moments chose this time to mend a schism that would continue to last for centuries later.  I would hope that the next time the secretary adorns herself with a cross, that she is reminded of who helped carry it! 

 WHO A TEACHER IS, IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HE TEACHES

By Peter Vuono

Title derived from a quote by Karl Menninger.

  
  Three years ago I lost my friend, Bobby Uto, to cancer. Bobby was a great teacher but he was loved by thousands of kids over almost 4 decades not because he was just a great teacher, but because Bob lived a life of compassion, love, and thoughtfulness. He loved his students and they loved him.

  Decades before, I had an instructor at college- Dr. Anthony Deleo. Dr. Deleo was the person who initiated Special Education at Bridgewater State University which led to tens of thousands of Spec. Ed teachers and the services that they would give to Special kids.

  Dr. Deleo had a stroke in the 60's. At times, during his lectures he would, on occasion, veer off the course. I was used to it and it really didn't matter because what I learned from the person he was would last a life time. When I started student teaching, I was told that I couldn't stay in the classroom because I didn't take two prerequisite courses. I then went back to the school and found that they were filled to capacity. Dr. Deleo walked me over to the registrar and cut through all existing red tape and got those courses for me. The next semester I was ready and went back to student teaching with him as my mentor. No teacher I had ever had had gone that extra mile for me and Dr. Deleo taught me a lesson that I would never forget.

  Fast forward to the present. There's a priest from Nigeria who guest celebrates at my church. This is Father Elias Ojomah. For those that don't know, Nigeria is a very dangerous place for Christians and especially priests. In the past 10 years 150 Catholic priests and 50,000 Christians have been murdered by the Boko Haram regime. Father Elias is more in tune than any American how lucky we are to be here. 

   I sometimes miss a word or two of Father Elias' sermons. This is what happens when one is as old as I am. It doesn't matter one iota, however, as Father Elias' humanity and compassion shine through stronger than the sun. On March 9th, Father Elias found out that an alter boy had a birthday. At the end of Mass, he placed the boy in front of the alter and sang with the entire congregation, "Happy Birthday" to the young, beaming man.
 Father Elias knows how precious life is and celebrates it every millisecond. It matters not if I miss a word or two from his sermons. The way he conducts his life and character is a sermon for the ages.

  In 1970, a friend of mine from high school said," Everyone's a priest in his own way".How right he was! The way we conduct our lives is a daily sermon and if we do it like Bobby Uto, Dr. Deleo or Father Elias, people will go and do the same and pass this humanity on. So when the day comes that you are working hard and think that maybe you could do better, cast that thought aside because who you are is far more important than what you could ever teach

                  GUINEFORT;  THE DOG WHO BECAME A SAINT

By Peter Vuono

     In the year 1350, in the small town of Chatillon-Sur-Chalarone which is  North of Lyon, there lived in a castle a wealthy knight with his infant son, his wife, a chamber maid and his loyal Greyhound, Guinefort.

The name Guinefort was derived from the German "Wini" for friend and  the French word "fort" for strong, or "Strong Friend". One day the knight decided to go hunting and left his son in the care of the chambermaid and Guinefort. The maid left the baby to do household errands and as she did a poinsonous viper entered the room. 

  Immediately, Guinefort sprang into action and tore the snake into pieces. The violent struggle knocked over the baby's crib. Although he was unharmed, his presence was obfuscated by the crib. Blood was everywhere.

  When the knight retuned, he saw the results of the conflict but did not see his child. As Guinefort received his master, the knight could see how bloody his jaws were. Thinking that his noble greyhound devoured his son, the knight went into a rage.He drew his sword and killed the dog.

  Immediately after, the knight heard his son cry and became overcome with grief when he realized his fatal error. Incredibly distraught, the knight carried the body of his loyal friend to the well. He covered it with stones and planted a tree in front to memorialize his friend.

  When word got out of Guinefort's valor, peasants flocked the shrine to pay homage. In 13th century Europe, the rules of canonization in the Catholic Church were not strict and the town's people declared Guinefort a "Saint". He would be made the patron saint of children and hundreds of patrons from all over Europe would visit.

   When Rome got wind of it, they sent a Dominican inquisitor- Stephen of Bourbon- to investigate. After Stephen documented on paper all the events that led to Guinefort's sainthood, he declared that Guinefort could not be deemed a saint. He burned the greyhound's remains and cut down the tree. He then threatened fines to worshipers.

  This all backfired. Stephen's manuscript was copied and published all over Europe. Patrons would continue to worship the shrine for another 650 years even until 1970! The rules of canonization are now clearer where the proposed saint must have an incontrovertible miracle attached to him or her.

  Archeologists have explained that the dog has been in a partnership with man in harmony and friendship for over 12,000 years where the Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens converged. The tale of Guinefort 13,350 years later is one of the greatest pieces of evidence that this bond only got stronger.

  This noble friend's tale simply reinforces what we dog lovers already know; that love, loyalty, protection and companionship between us and our dogs enduringly prevails 675 years later and will continue to do so in the heart of man.

"ONE DAY WE WILL SEE OUR ANIMALS AGAIN IN THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST.PARADISE IS OPEN TO ALL OF GOD'S CREATURES"-  POPE FRANCIS