I miss my dad every day!

Bill was my cousin. My family usually spent Thanksgiving with his family.  After the meal, a fire would be started in the fireplace. Everyone would write down what they wanted for Christmas and Bill would read the note and then put it in the fire. If the burned note went up the chimney, then Santa got the message and you were likely to get what you wished for. I loved the magic of it even when I was an adult! I remember Ann taking notes about what each kid wanted during the reading. There seemed to be a trick that only Bill knew to get the note up the chimney. My mother would always ask for a Cadillac--either pink or purple. It never went up the chimney. 

Always a pleasure to see Bill and Ann on DiRocco family trips west for many an occasion . Bill always had some good advice and I will not forget when he educated me on recognizing riptide currents. That same week I was able to use that info to pull my mom out of a riptide while at The beach . I will miss his big heart his big arms and hugs.