Ones first decision, that of properly choosing good parents,  is critical as it makes all subsequent decisions much easier.  I did very well indeed. Mom came from a long line of pioneers and was an adventurous explorer. Pop has the discerning mind of a scientist.

Mom, an Aries, born on April 4th, and Pop a Taurus, born on April 24th, brought me to life right between them on April 14th.  I have always been proud of that symbolism - we had all the 4s of April, with me in the middle. I adopted moms pioneering sprite to explore, and pops scientific nature to keep me out of trouble.

I can not imagine what must have gone through their minds when I was born with my right foot pointing backwards, and a deformed right hand.  Their fears must have been overwhelming, but they found the courage, and always found the time to help me, while never allowing me to see myself as a cripple.

I needed a new cast on my leg each several weeks, for 4 years or so.  Mom would take me along with two sisters to Albany.  I am not sure how she managed this.  Once the casts came off for good, pop worked endless hours exercising my boney right leg, helping me put muscle on the bone.

My best Friends have surely been my parents.

vjc 06-14-03

Phyllis J. Cataldi, 73, died on April 11, 2000.  The wife of Horace A. Cataldi, PhD., a research chemist for General Electric Company, Phyllis was the mother of Mary Frances Cataldi, Vincent J. Cataldi, Margaret A. Bercovitz, James A. Cataldi, John A. Cataldi (deceased twin of James), and Elizabeth A. Cataldi � Orser. Grandchildren include Timothy Krukowski, Jennifer and Rebecca Frank, Benjamin and Katherine Bercovitz, Christopher Cataldi and Brian Orser.  Other survivors include Phyllis�s brother Daniel W. Schrader, a sister-in-law Josephine Pulliam, various first and second cousins.

Phyllis held a BA from Mount Mary College, and a MA from UW-Milwaukee.  She served as Woman�s Producer and Emcee at WDUZ, Green Bay; University Editor at UW-Milwaukee; Program Director at Alverno College; writer and editor at Cataldi & Associates, a family corporation where she specialized in research and producing family histories.