Monday, March 27, 2023
I have just learned of Colonel Gavel's passing and extend my sympathies to his family.
I did not 'know' John but we had some correspondence over the past few years. He had written an article which appeared in 'Rodziny', a Polish genealogical journal, regarding the neighborhood in which I reside and in which he had a multitude of cousins. I had never expected to find an article about Melrose, a section of Sayreville, NJ, and I wrote to John congratulating him on his article. This began the correspondence.
The Colonel was very generous, providing me with genealogical records of surnames in Melrose. I delivered newspapers for a number of years in my youth and knew all the households that he referenced. Later he asked me to act as a critical 'second set of eyes' for an article he was considering. I felt inadequate to the task but he graciously accepted my thoughts.
John reached out to me to adhere three small ancestral name plates to a relative's headstone in St. Mary's cemetery in South Amboy, NJ after failing to find a cousin capable of the task. He sent me a 'donation' for my help which I forwarded to St. Mary parish for the cemetery maintenance fund. John was appreciative of a note he received from the pastor of the church acknowledging his donation.
Finally, John sent me a book about the history of Raritan Bay. I enjoyed it the book and still use it as a reference. In his note included with the book he wrote that it would be his 'chance to do yet another good deed.'
I appreciated the interactions we had and the knowledge he imparted.
Requiescat in Pace.
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