Story Of Stu! Part 4!

Before I get into the business I started in high school, Electronics Unlimited I'm going to step back a bit to some of the great experiences I had thanks to working at the family deli. The deli was at 5th and Olney Streets in the Olney section of Philly. It was located across from the Transport Workers Union, they represented all city bus drivers and was a hot bed of political activity, I got to meet many political leaders and legendary Mayor Frank Rizzo quite a few times, besides being a giant in politics the guy made me feel tiny at 6' 225lbs and an active weight lifter! In conversations with Mr Rizzo I found out he use to walk a beat with my late uncle Pete when both were Philly cops, he related some great stories that ill take to my grave, suffice it to say policing is very different than it use to be! Another great experience I had there was my relationship with the district cops, one in particular, Norman was a mounted patrolman, my daily job was to take care of his horse while he ate or used the restroom, he'd have to goad me into doing it daily because I was scared to death of horses but became friends with this giant beast! The relationship I built with the local cops paid off many times when trouble would find its way to the store, at least 5 times they stormed in there and beat the hell out of the offenders before any questions were asked! Justice use to be quick in Philly! The first time I ever had a gun pointed at my face was in that store! One evening a strung out young lady tried to hold me up, next thing I knew was my uncle had a gun in her ear telling her go ahead and shoot him, can't say I agreed with his tactics but she dropped the gun then somehow fell into the ice cream freezer! But my favorite experience there was meeting Jimmy Young and his entourage, Jimmy went on to become heavyweight champ of the world, it's even said he won his bout against Muhammad Ali. Jimmy and his crew were great guys often inviting me to watch him work out at legendary Smokin Joe'S Gym! I had convinced myself that I could beat Ali, I use to run around a local track with a shirt that said "Ali In 3" Finally I accepted Jimmy's invite to stop at the gym, I believe on the third visit and in my mind convinced if given a chance I'd hurt Jimmy too, he invited me into the ring, at a time he was reigning champ! Just prior to the start of sparing Joe Frazier and his entourage walked by, Joe said,"don't hurt him" cocky me answered, "I won't" I will never forget the look on Frazier's face before he started laughing hysterically! Fortunately Jimmy was a great guy and only paralyzed my arms for about two weeks! Running into Smokin Joe several times over the years was always a treat, just an incredible human, treated everyone like family, in fact the last time was in January 2011, just prior to his cancer diagnosis, he spent about 15 minutes talking with me and the wife, telling us about every health problem he's dealt with and then comparing notes on various subjects! May they both rest in peace! Hopefully ill get to Electronics Unlimited next time! Thanks for reading and sharing! Stu

Story of Stu-Part 3!

Just after moving to Cherry Hill I went to work at my uncle's drug store in Camden Nj, I started there shortly after the infamous riots that destroyed almost every business for blocks on each side of the drug store. Legend has it, and many stories I heard first hand make me a believer, a contingent of neighbors stood arm in arm protecting the store. Every single night I left that store local gang members were waiting for me to leave, after shooting the bull they'd escort me to my car. I never felt safer, obviously my uncle was a beloved figure in the neighborhood! The first neighbor I met when we got to Cherry Hill was good ole Mr Wilson, I don't think I ever greeted him in any other fashion than HEY MR WILLLLLLSON! Mr Wilson was the one that started teaching me auto repair, it started by accident. I went to visit a friend in Philly, upon trying to go home the car wouldn't start. Mr Wilson came from Jersey and towed me home. He refused to tell me what was wrong with the car, instead teaching me why each of my diagnosis were wrong. Finally decided, with his guidance it had to be the timing chain, quite a job to replace in my Buick! He instructed me in the disassembly, proper installation of the replacement parts and everything that went with it. About every 10 minutes asking me if I was listening carefully as it was crucial, especially with those parts. The second I finished he said,"you did great for your first attempt, the car won't start though" I protested and said but I did everything you said! He answered, "you did everything as I said except for lining up the gears correctly, take it apart and fix it" I did and never made that mistake again, in fact my only other mistake in fixing cars came a few years later, I had bet someone that I could remove and reinstall a transmission in an old Chevy in 30 minutes! I did it in 19 minutes, well below the 6.5 hours the book time allowed on it. Only problem was in my haste I forgot to put the torque converter(torque conv joins engine and transmission)back in! Lost $50! But the lessons Mr Wilson gave me on that one car went a long way, I love him and miss him! I became the 16 year old neighborhood mechanic, fixed everyone's cars, homes, plumbing, electrical problems, everything and anything and never took a cent. As I said in an earlier post I started my first business in high school, it was called Electronics Unlimited, I installed radios, alarms and other electronic toys of the day. I met an incredible human being named Jerry Berman, he owned numerous Radio Shack Stores. He started referring all his customers to me and always refused commissions, in fact had me install a radio in his daughter's car and insisted on paying! Just a great guy! People have always treated me special and right! In my next post we shall see where Electronics Unlimited took me! Thanks for reading! Stu Ps. For those waiting for the dirt and my transgressions I estimate we should see some good stuff by part 10! Lol

The Story of Stu, Part 2!!

We moved from an apartment to a house when I was 5, started kindergarten later that year. One of my first memories in that new house was sitting on the big sloped lawn next the neighbor kid, he was 1 year older, he proceeded to explain in detail what the F word meant! Needless to say as a sheltered 5 year old I was shocked! I will never forget the look on my mom's face when I walked in and announced, "I know what F... Means" I still laugh at that one! One afternoon my mom picked me and a friend up from class, right after dropping my friend off a young girl ran into the street in front of mom's car in the middle of a construction zone, while I was still sitting in the car I remember distinctly 6 big guys lifting the driver side of the car and another man going under the car to free the girl. A horrific accident that turned into more, the one man that appeared to be a giant to me at that time happened to be African American, he was the one that held on to my hysterical mom, hugging, calming and telling her everything would be ok. Fortunately the girl had relatively minor injuries, unfortunately many of my classmates made fun of me because the scene of being hugged in the middle of the street by an African American spread like wildfire! Those memories shaped many thoughts and actions in my life, going through school the number of people of color was very limited, the high school I went to was designed for 1500 students, it had 4600 when we moved to Cherry Hill in my junior year. In my freshman and sophomore years there was one student from China, 2 African Americans and a Hispanic boy. I was friends with all, but friends with very few white kids, most preferred to make fun of my friend choices and call me names. I was always a big kid, the only time I used fists over reason and debate in school was in the 7th grade, Richard H called me a "mother f..." To this day, call me what ever you want, but don't dare involve my mom, wife, daughter or sisters in any way! I'm old school with old rules! Just prior to moving to Cherry Hill I got my drivers license at age 16, one of my criminal uncles immediately bestowed a shinny Buick convertible on me. Once we moved to New Jersey I was stopped by the police numerous times, although NJ's legal age was 17 and me still being 16 I looked 12! Having a car long before others in my new school led to many fake friends, by my senior year I had eliminated most, had a few real ones that I still love today. Supposedly I was blessed with a near genius IQ, never really was interested in school, my parents always dreamed I'd go to their alma matter, Temple University. To start my senior year I decided I'd apply myself a bit, made the honor roll the first two marking periods, then cut class the second half literally 50% of the time. Myself and 2 friends would take road trips to see how far we could go then get back in time to make it appear we were at school. We visited NYC many times, Washington DC, Virginia, and many other places. In looking back what killed my college career was the letter I received from Temple, "your gpa, SAT and other factors qualify you for acceptance in our program, unfortunately due to affirmative action requirements we are unable to accept you at this time"
I looked at it as doing my part to make up for all the racial injustices, especially those I witnessed. I did a couple of years at a community college but frankly was never into it, after all, I had already started my first business in high school and was driving a brand new 280z before I graduated.
Thanks for reading, stayed tuned for part 3!

The Story Of Stu Part 1!

The Story of Stu Part 1

I was born in the 1950's into a two parent loving home in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. My angel of a mom grew up in North Philly, the only white family on the block, running a kosher butcher shop to boot, my saint of a father was a star running back for Temple University, he had lots of pro teams interested in him until he took a 7 story fall while working a summer job at a sugar refinery his senior year, one of the things that best describes dad is upon hitting the ground he got up went to the infirmary for what appeared to be his only injury, a severely lacerated left arm. Two weeks later he was at football training camp! Just prior to the start of contact drills starting the coach called him over to end his career, the X-rays were finally read and he had a broken back! Dad stayed in superior shape until he entered his death bed in 2010 due to a 13.5 year battle with prostate cancer, in fact one of my last memories of him was exercising in that bed, stating,"another 2 weeks of exercise, my legs getting stronger and I will be able to walk again" No matter the challenge my parents never gave up! Dad worked for the same company for over 40 years, never making real money until I was 16 when we moved to Cherry Hill, Nj. Money never stopped our parents(3 siblings) from keeping a roof over our heads, feeding us and following his brother all over the country watching him play primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, in that pursuit we also visited many of the great historical sites this country has to offer! The 50-60's in Philly were times of turmoil and racial hate, I've personally been called an "n...lover, spic lover and dirty Jew" more times than I care to remember, why? Because my parents were different, we had people of every color and nationality in our home! One of my favorite memories of that time is our maternal grandparents would have the local deli deliver a food order, Clint the delivery man, a very gregarious giant African American man would time his deliveries for when the local games were on, my brother, dad and Clint would sit there and enjoy the games, mom serving everyone! This was just not done in Philly during that time period, it lead to many confrontations and even vandalism! Growing up in a home like this I should've known better to say what I said during a trip to Miami in 1965, we stopped at a local general type store in Georgia, the sign said "No Niggers, No Jews Served Here" Dad and I walked in and he immediately said lets go. I got a death stare and 300 mile lecture when I said, how would they know we're Jews? I couldn't be more proud of the home I grew up in!
Thanks for reading part 1

Here It Comes!

This blog will report on my life events, both good and bad, I'll be calling people out that need to be caled out! I'll expose corruption in the auto industry, law enforcement, politics and other areas that I have first hand knowledge of. The line to want me dead will require one of those ticket machines from a bakery! This will be my attempt to change the system and expose those that have abused and misused people!