Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Mary Kay and Family,
Rodie was my best friend. Anyone can be your friend when you are at your best, but, you learn who your real friends are when you are less than you should be. He supported me through a hunting situation, was always there when I needed help, and backed me up when my big mouth caused problems.
We survived wild car rides and road races in the ’54 Pontiac, ’57 DeSoto, and ’56 Ford. Once when we were trying to provoke another driver into a race I was watching behind us when he turned off so I told Rod and he made an unbelievable u-turn and we ended up back along side the other car where the driver said through his open window, “I don’t wanna race you, you’re crazy!” I remember being able to cruise all night when a sympathetic gas station attendant gave us more gas than he should have when we could only muster 46 cents between us! Our soft drink of choice on our outings was Vernor’s. He introduced me to flavored coffee which I still drink excessively. We enjoyed watching “Thunder Road” together when they reran it at Smalley’s Theater in Johnstown.
We shared politics, thoughts, humor, and interests. Both of us had Ithaca Deerslayers but his had much nicer wood than mine!
57 years ago this month, he was our best man. I used to tell him that he WAS the best man! We were so happy that he was able to attend out 50th. Anniversary Party at Plaza’s Italian Bistro.
We would lament that at times we hadn’t tended to our friendship like we should have but whenever we got back together it was like business as usual!
I’m glad that he had Mary Kay to take care of him when he needed it.
I know that I will never have a friend who could take his place. We never tried to fix each other, we just accepted our idiosyncrasies and laughed at them! He will be sorely missed!
Rest in Peace, my dearest friend!
A.J. Siarkowski
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