 | Last year I wrote of someone I did not meet because he died before I could meet him. This year, to honor this idea and to honor the life a great man, I want you to meet Morrie “Pav” Pavey. I’ve known Morrie for a few years now, or I should say the last ten Super Bowls. He is the father of a dear friend of mine who I only saw once a year. And then it was usually a handshake and a hello. A true patriarch, Morrie always sat in the best seat in the house. Which meant he always had the best view of the game and the quickest access to the food. He earned that seat. Plus Morrie was always more interested in the game than talking to any of us. Nevertheless, he never ignored you. And was always generous with a welcoming smile and a great handshake. |
| Today, I sat in the synagogue of Mount Sinai funeral home listening to all the great stories about this wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Here’s what I learned. Morrie was born in Los Angeles but his family relocated to Chicago when he was a baby. He graduated from Crane Tech high school in Chicago and then enlisted in the army Air Force in 1944. As a shining member of the Greatest Generation, Morrie served our country as a navigator aboard an A-26 Invader, flying on a handful of bombing runs over Germany. He was proud of his service but never boasted or talked about it. It’s fitting his life ended on Veterans Day. He was previously married, and had three children with his first wife. He studied accounting at Roosevelt University in Chicago, then worked as the finance officer at a local Chevy dealership. He moved his family to Los Angeles in 1964, where he co-owned a furniture business. And the went into property management. In 1986, Morrie married Doreen my friend’s mom and he instantly became a father to three teenage kids who were still dealing with their father’s untimely death a few years prior. He never once called them his step children but treated them and loved them as his own. | "Till We Meet Again" We’ll meet again, Don’t know where, I don’t know when, But I know we will meet again some sunny day. Keep smiling through, Just like you do, ‘till the blue skies choose the dark clouds far away. So will you please say hello, To the folks that I know, Tell them I won’t be long, They will be happy to know, But as you saw me go, I was singing this song. We’ll meet again, Don’t know where, I don’t know when, But I know we will meet again some sunny day. Keep smiling through, Just like you do, ‘till the blue skies choose the dark clouds far away. |
He was an avid tennis player who played well into his 94th year of life. But his favorite sport was football. So meeting him during Super Bowl meant taking a back seat to watching the game.
He also loved music, movies, reading, and most of all his family. He was a forever learner, often taking classes at the community college to keep his mind sharp and keep up on what was happening. He liked his scotch, his gin, and his whiskey. Whenever he had a glass, there were laughs and good times to be had. He believed in life and lived life to the fullest.
I would’ve loved to have interviewed him in person for this project. But like I said, to me Morrie was more interested in giving me a smile and a handshake and a simple hello. It’s hard to say goodbye.
He also loved music, movies, reading, and most of all his family. He was a forever learner, often taking classes at the community college to keep his mind sharp and keep up on what was happening. He liked his scotch, his gin, and his whiskey. Whenever he had a glass, there were laughs and good times to be had. He believed in life and lived life to the fullest.
I would’ve loved to have interviewed him in person for this project. But like I said, to me Morrie was more interested in giving me a smile and a handshake and a simple hello. It’s hard to say goodbye.
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