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Matt,
That was a great article. Susan Rosenblum is my cousin
and Albert Wides is my father. I always love to read things about my father
as what I heard he was a great man. I was 5 in 1971 when he passed but
everything that I have ever heard was he was great and again you put him
in a very good light. Any other memories of him, I would love to hear.
Thank you.
Laurence Wides
Matt Bashie's Reply, Dated April 20, 2010
Hello Laurence,
Thank you for taking the time to comment on a chapter from my autobiography.
Obviously I knew your father quite well -- in fact, before he met and
married your mother, I even double-dated with him a few times -- even
though there was a large gap in our ages. Albert was "ageless"
and even though he was in his late thirties, it was hard to consider him
anything other than an agemate -- he certainly was young at heart!
And "heart" was his main trouble. He suffered from heart problems
for many years. In fact, he had experienced a serious attack in the mid
'50s so we knew that there might be a problem with his health! I was devastated
to hear of his passing in 1971. I heard about this loss somewhat "second
hand" through Melvin's former office manager (Philomena Mary Santora)
who called me sometime later in that year to share the bad news. Throughout
the years, I kept in constant touch with Miss Santora -- I last heard
from her in January of 2007 shortly before her death. You might check
with your cousin Susan to see if she remembers Phyl Santora -- I am certain
that she will.
No one ever mentions Stephen Wides-- Susan's younger brother. I knew very
little about him -- he was only a small child. I DID hear that after college,
Stephen came in to join his father in the 1410 Beach Channel dealership.
I also heard that much later on, the fellow had moved upstate and had
a bit of a problem with the law. Of course I only know that from what
I heard in rumors -- I don't know if I have my facts straight on that
one.
Anyway -- It is a real tragedy you were so young when your dad died --
you really should have gotten to know him better -- he was a really lovely
man: smart, gentle, a bit shy -- a really good person. Like I stated in
the autobiography, Uncle Albert attended so many of my birthday parties
-- and I even remember some of the great gifts he gave to me -- but none
of those gifts were worth more to me than his friendship.
Thanks for writing to me -- I wish you much happiness in life and above
all, good health!
Matthew Bashie
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