During my first year at Penn State, I lived in the dorms in East Halls on the 10th floor of Pinchot Hall.

Just down the hall and to the right lived two fellows from South Philadelphia, both of Italian extraction, Gary and Tony. 

I’ve mentioned Tony a couple of times previously, but not Gary.

I spent more time palling around with Tony than I did with Gary; in fact, I didn’t pal around with Gary at all. I only saw him when I stopped by their room and the two of them were there, or when a bunch of us shared a table in the cafeteria.

For whatever reason Tony and I spent more time together, and even took at least one course together, on the cinema which I’ve written about.

There was something wrong with Tony’s left arm; it was withered and he had very little strength in it, but he didn’t let that hold him back.

But I never ran into Tony after that first year, and since I’ve long since forgotten his last name, I’ve never tried to look him up to see what he’s been up to.

But I do recall Gary’s last name. In fact, a little over ten years after that first year at Penn State he and his wife walked into the Channel Home Center in Harrisburg where I was working. We chatted for a few minutes, and I was actually a bit surprised that he remembered me.

On a whim a few minutes ago I did a search for him and found his Facebook page instantly. And I have no doubt that that is him. The age is right. While I wouldn’t necessarily recognize him, it certainly looks like it could be him.

What a shame I never thought to look for him while I was still on Facebook. I could have asked him about Tony.