Memories of High Holy Day 2006
This nice photo comes from Jim Donnery. Pictured: John Guinan and Mike R. Mihalik on St. Patrick's Day, 2006.
John Guinan: 1952 to 2008
John Guinan died last night after a long, and extraordinarily brave fight with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Mary Jane, children Sean, Kelly and Casey, granddaughter Zoe, his siblings Margaret, Christine and Jimmy and his father Jim. Your notes and calls to John over the past 18 months have meant more than you'll ever know. Rarely does someone hear such widespread affection from so many corners of the world. He deserved all of the love but took none of it for granted. And he changed many lives, my own included, in big and small ways. The family will hold a wake from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday: Clinton Funeral Home 21 Parrott Street Cold Spring, NY 10516 (845) 265-3333 John's funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday: Our Lady of Loretto 24 Fair Street Cold Spring, NY 10516 (845) 265-3781 In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Braking the Cycle and Team Guinan. This link will take you directly to Team Guinan's donation...
Comments
I hope all is well. I am writting not to leave a post but rather to question and fill in the spaces of family history. I read "Little Chapel On The River" and although the story was of a different nature, for me it was a walk through my past (maybe not so different). The timing of my reading is spectacular since my niece and I have been searching and exploring the roots/geneology of our family, not with intesity, but rather with curiosity. I was born and lived in Garrison and vicinity for 35 years, and visit sad to say too infrequently. In the final chapter/epilogue I believe, you mentioned Nazareth, North Redoubt. Were you refering to the large house at the base of the mountain referred to as the North Redoubt? My mother had sent me an article from the Putnam County News about a year or two ago, listing the house for sale. Along with the article sent, she wrote about the rooms in the house where she and my grandparents each stayed. Are you the one that bought the house that my Great Grandfather built? If so the next time I am in Garrison I may need to talk to Chirico about the comment "the guy who built this house didn't know what he was doing(alittle humor).
It was certainly sad to hear of Mr. Guinans passing, but more so was the news that never got to me of Johns passing. I remember vivdly the day we had my fathers funeral service at St. Phillips and felt a pat on my shoulder to see John standing there, giving condolensce to my mother and I, and telling us that his father would have been there if he could. The conversation was brief, but heartfelt and memorable.
Yes an era has passed, but in its place a new one begins.