The Courtship

Ed & Marge first met on a blind date arranged by our Aunt Marge, who was dating Dad's brother Buddy at the time. Mom and Auntie Marge went to nursing school together and says she chose Mom because she was the only one in the dorm that weekend that would go on the double date with her (so much for romance). For their first date, they went to Manner's Drive-In for coffee. Mom thought Dad was quiet and polite, and had the most beautiful eyelashes she'd ever seen (and still does!). Dad thought Mom was naïve and innocent (huh?) and needed protection from his rowdy friends - although Mom claims he was attracted by her great personality, fantastic body, and deep mathematical mind (not!). Even though it was not love at first sight, Mom liked Dad enough to ask him to an upcoming formal dance at school, and the rest, they say, is history.

Since they were both in school and money was tight, for the year and a half that they dated, they spent a lot of time doing homework together, watching Roadrunner cartoons, and when Dad could borrow Uncle Buddy's car, necking in Garfield Park. When the weather was nice, they spent time at the beach and the park, where Dad did some of his earliest "masterpieces" (Mom still has some of his drawings from that time). When there was snow, they often went tobogganing at Virginia Kendall with Dad's friends. During this time, Mom also got to know Dad's side of the family really well - and yet she still married Dad anyway! They had dinner three times a week at Grandma Kosiewicz's house, which Mom says saved her from certain death by food poisoning at the hands of the school cafeteria. They also visited Dad's Uncle Stan and Aunt Phil, who had recently celebrated the birth of their son Davey (Mom fondly remembers holding and rocking him). Dad was a big time bowler back then, and Mom would often tag along to the alley, playing cards at the local tavern after Dad was finished. One weekend she went with Dad, Grandpa Kosiewicz, Uncle Stan, and his cousin Norm to a bowling tournament in Detroit. While there, Uncle Stanley made Mom go out on the dance floor and proceeded to give her 10 minutes of instruction on doing the "Oberek", a Polish dance. When he finished, he informed Mom that he didn't actually know how to do the dance, and walked off the dance floor - needless to day, Mom was totally embarrassed.

Mom first thought that they might get married when Dad gave her his high school ring. They never really had a "formal" engagement - on one of their dates, Dad gave mom his fraternity pin (as they were leaving for the date, he had to go back to the house and get it) and they talked about getting married. Mom wore his frat pin until he could save enough money to buy her an engagement ring, which ironically she replaced years later with the simple gold band she wears today. Since both of them were still in school, their parents though they should wait until Dad finished school before they got married. But you know young people in love, they went with the advise of their friends and decided to get married after Mom finished nursing school.

Please share any fond memories you have from the courtship years by clicking on the comments link below.

Ed - The Early Years

Edward Louis Kosiewicz was born at home to Julia Swyt Kosiewicz and Ben (Boleslaw) Kosiewicz on September 7, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio. It was likely he was named Edward after his Uncle and Louis after his Mother's Grandfather. He was the only child for a year and half at which time the family expanded to include dad’s only sibling, Walter (Buddy) Kosiewicz.

Dad & Buddy grew up in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio. They did not have a car through their grade school years, so to get anywhere they either walked, took the bus, or rode the street car. Most of the kids they played with in the neighborhood were in different grades and went to different schools, so friends at home were separate from friends at school. Dad took part in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, University Settlement (pic of Dad & Buddy in the canoe), and summer camps. As we all know, and his mother always swore by, Ed was perfect from day one! The only dirt we could dig up on Dad from his childhood is that he used his grandfather’s good lumber to make a soap box car and got in big trouble for it.

Dad attended St. Stanislaus kindergarten through eighth grade. Graduation from kindergarten was a big deal in the Polish neighborhood, and he dressed in the traditional robe and miter for the occasion. He also took part in school plays and dreamed of being an artist. He graduated from St. Stans in the eighth grade which was also considered another milestone in the neighborhood.

After refusing a scholarship to St. Stans, Dad attended Cathedral Latin High School for one year. He transferred to South High School where he acted in school plays, worked back stage, and sang in the acappella chorus. He also had the illustrious status of being one of the last male cheerleaders before they started allowing girls to participate. He joined the naval reserves and attended Great Lakes boot camp in the middle of a freezing cold winter. During his high school years his best subject was math (which apparently skipped a generation) and had the honor of giving a speech at his graduation ceremony.

Dad and Buddy spent their summers camping, canoeing, and fishing at Pymatuning Lake (where he honed his great fishing skills). Although there were just the boys and some cousins, there were many Aunts and Uncles. Grandpa Kosiewicz had 7 brothers and 1 sister. Grandma had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. With many relatives, there were always family functions to attend and lots of good Polish food to consume (can you taste Grandma’s apple turnovers now?). His Auntie May and Uncle Wally included the boys in many activities and they lived next door at one point. Later he became closer to his Uncle Stanley & Aunt Felecia and his Aunt Ceil.

Dad had a great love for education and desired to attend college, but his parents did not have the money to send him. So he went to work for Grabski’s car dealership, washing then undercoating and painting cars in the body shop. After a year of working at the dealership, his Uncle Sig offered to help pay for college. He immediately enrolled at Ohio State University with the intentions of becoming a Civil Engineer and dreamed of designing and building roads in South America. After 1 ½ years at OSU, he transferred to Fenn College (now Cleveland State) and enrolled in the Engineering Science program. While attending Fenn, he co-opped at Sohio and McKee’s, an engineering firm in Cleveland, where he was introduced to the world of computers. He became a computer programmer using assembly language programming software mainly for outside customers who wanted to use the computer at McKee. He graduated from Fenn with a Bachelor of Engineering Science degree with a major in math. (How’s that for a Polak?) He ended up quitting his job at McKees when they did not give him a raise after graduation. His mother thought he was nuts for doing that, but Dad always stood up for what he believed in and after all he is an engineer at heart... no gray... just black and white.

It is evident that education has always been a focus for Dad - even at a young age. There was not an abundance of money during his childhood, but he always found a way to fullfill his dreams.

Please share any fond memories you have from Dad’s childhood years by clicking on the comments link below.

Marge - The Early Years

Marguerite Roberta Thorp was born to Robert Alpheus Thorp and Marguerite Noll Thorp (affectionately known to us grandkids as "Bunky") on September 23rd, 1938 at St. Luke's hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. She was named Marguerite after her mother (all first born girls from her mom's side of the family were given that name) and Roberta after her father. "Margie" was their only child and freely admits to being spoiled rotten by them. Her parents took her everywhere they went, and if she was not invited, they would stay at home.

Mom grew up at 4416 Adrian Road in South Euclid, Ohio in a house built by her dad and her Grandpa Noll. She was the classic tomboy, preferring jeans and t-shirts to "dressy" clothes (Bunky must have made her put on a dress for this picture!), and her passion was playing baseball with her friends Jimmy Sweeny, Anthony Iarussi and Michael Palermo. She was also a hard core Cleveland Indian's fan and loved watching them play, a pastime she still enjoys to this day despite their failure to win a World Series since 1948. In addition to her athletic prowess, Mom had a talent for music - an ability passed down though her mom, who also played the piano, and her Grandpa Noll, who played the violin (although Mom admits she was often grounded for not practicing her piano lessons). She also spent many weekends boating on Lake Erie with her parents and socializing down at the Gordon Shore Boat Club. Her favorite radio programs back then were Fibber McGee & Molly and Bobby Benson & the B-Bar-B Ranch (she also recalls sitting on her dad's lap to listen to Gang Busters because she was so scared!).

Thorp family get togethers were a regular event during her childhood, attended by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and a source of great fun. Mom also spent many hours over at her Grandma and Grandpa Noll's house, who lived in the house next door to them on Adrian Road. World War II had a big impact on Mom's childhood - most of her cousins were fighting over seas during the war and her dad was an Air Raid Warden in South Euclid. Despite the seriousness of the times, she remembers feeling safe and secure, especially when lying in bed at night with Bunky after all the lights had to be turned off.

In 1955, Mom graduated from Regina High School, an all-girls, Catholic school run by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Her best subjects were History and Chemistry, and she was involved in athletics, chorus, and was a reporter for the school newspaper. During that time, she earned money by babysitting for the neighborhood kids and worked summers as a cashier at the A&P. Growing up, Mom was greatly influenced by her Aunt Temple, and aspired to become a nurse like her some day. She fulfilled that dream when she attended college at the St. Alexis School of Nursing and graduated as a Register Nurse in 1959.

All in all, Mom admits that she had the ideal childhood and says she would not change a thing. She had very loving and caring parents who supported and encouraged her in all aspects of her life (and, who by the way, were also terrific grandparents to us!). The only thing she ever wanted, but never got as a child, was a brother or sister.

Please share any fond memories you have from Mom's childhood years by clicking on the comments link below.