Prior to us being born, he owned a service station on Archer Av called Costa's Gulf Service Station. He gave it up when we came along to get a job with insurance.

As kids, he would catch us doing something and tell us how stupid we were being. Then be there with us until the job or project was finished. Very little got past him, but you got enough rope to hang yourself and the lesson began.

How many of you built a motorbike back in the late 60's? Take a twenty inch bike frame, a washing machine tub pulley brazed onto the back rim, a fan belt and a lawnmower engine. Put it all together and you were off and running. No brakes, no throttle, just reach down and flick the throttle with your fingers or if you were high class a shoestring tied to it to pull, drag your feet for brakes. Oh yeah, direct drive so the second you pull the starter cable the thing took off.  Well I wanted one had a bike, procured a 5 horse Briggs and Straton motor, went to ABC Tool on Archer Ave and bought a washing machine pulley. Working secretly in the garage I tried to fit the motor to the frame using some angle Iron with  bolts and nuts. Just my luck He got home early that night. "What are you doing you stupid little $hit" he asked as the door sung open. I remember a slap to the back of the head as he asked "Where's the brakes? No throttle? No clutch? Go get your money and meet me in the car now!!" Got in the car with what little money I had and off we went back to ABC Tool. We purchased a centrifugal clutch and throttle with cable, "Got enough money he asked"? Of course I didn't as I handed my money to him. He  filled in the balance and told me I owed him. We went back to the garage where he brazed the pulley on the rim and welded the angle iron to the frame. I mounted the motor, the throttle and added the fan belt. As I jumped on he ask where I was going without brakes. I was dead in the water. I had a frame with pedal and not hand brakes and had taken the pedals off to make room for the motor. He showed me how to turn the one pedal to the inside in to make a scrub brake when you pushed on the other pedal.

That motorbike was clocked by the Chicago Police at 55 mph. Boy was I glad he was there.

Each of us on our fifteenth birthday received our first car. They all needed rebuilding in one way or another. He told us all, if you want to drive next year this thing has to be running. 

The hard guy "Dago", had a soft spot. he truly loved his daughters-in-laws like daughters. He and my wife would both curl up on  couches after a family dinner and take a nap. When we first got together, Pattie spent a lot of time looking for a "Sleeping" couch to put in our front room so he would have a comfortable place to nap. She still misses those naps and talks about them quite frequently.

JayCee and Mar went on vacations with Guitz and my Mom. He always talked about their trips when they returned and looked forward to the next. They enjoyed trips to Florida many times and Mar and JayCee were there with him on his last trip to Florida.

We, like so many others miss him greatly,  but we believe he rides in the Corvette with JayCee. If he were still with us, after telling us we were idiots for building the car, he would have been there every night and weekend during the build and would have never missed a race. Every time something happens with the Corvette,  one of us turns and comments that Guitz was there keeping everyone safe.

Dad, this was extremely hard to write, as you have touched many lives in such a positive manner. I only have two more requests to make of you. Continue keeping an eye on us and rest in peace. No one deserves it more. We love you.