It was tragic to hear of Al's death while still in school. I knew Al briefly. I sold Al my 1956 Ford and I guess he became a hit with his friends. I hear tell that he entered the car in a demolition derby contest and it won. He is one of our classmates to die too soon. Larry
I remember the day I heard of Al's death in a car accident. It broke my heart. I was sitting in the kitchen on a Saturday afternoon, listening to the radio while doing my homework. My parents were having a lively discussion and couldn't figure out why I was sitting so calmly one minute and in a total breakdown the next. He was in my homeroom. The day he was killed, he came over to my desk just to chat at the end of the day. We sat and talked about how he was juggling working full time with school and how he just got engaged. He was so excited. I was so happy for him, I thought he and his girl were a cute couple. I always had a special place in my heart for him. He was, afterall, my boyfriend in the sixth grade when we both attended St. Charles. When he left to go to public school the next year, I knew I would miss him. When I got to Boardman High, it was great to see my friend again. I have thought about him and his untimely death more times than I can count over the years. He went to soon.
Funny how seeing some of you overloads the memory banks:
I think it was probably a Friday night,Charly and I both worked at Almart.I ran into him in the cafeteria while we were both on break.I had quit dating his ex-girlfriend,Diane Barnhart, and started dating Sherry Sherman.
After work that night he and his cousins,Gary& Larry Feranti were going to to Hubbard for a party or something,he asked me to go along,I declined telling him I was seeing Sherry after work.I didn't go,Charly was the only one killed but I always
credited Sherry with possibly saving my life.
He was forever offering me advice the whole summer Diane and I dated,even though he had moved on.
Good guy,called home way too soon.
Russ Osborne
