Blog nr. 23

Today is 18 October 2010. Two years ago on this date I watched my big brother die from cancer. Let me tell you a little about him.

George Francis McLuckie, Jr., was born on 4 November 1931. He was the first son of George Sr., and Doris Cottet McLuckie. Hometown was Syracuse, New York.

For the first 6 years of his life, he had it all: the first child, first grandchild for his grandparents. Life was good.

Then things went downhill.....on 30 July 1937, his parents presented him with a young sister, Mary Jean McLuckie. Now he wasn't the "baby" anymore. He had to "share" toys, time with his parents/grandparents, etc...... He was 6 years old when Mary Jean was born. But, still his life wasn't too bad.....but things were going to get worse.

On 28 December, 1939, his parents had another child, a fat little baby boy named Thomas Anthony McLuckie. George, Jr., was no longer the "baby boy" in the family...young "Tommy" was. As a big brother, he had to curtail his youth somewhat and take care of his younger siblings. No more playing with his friends all the time. He had to babysit his younger siblings. If he wanted to go somewhere with his friends, his sister would stay home, but he had to take the "baby" with him. What a burden for a young lad. He handled it well.....both boys survived, although there were many "adventures" with "the baby". Years later, the boys would have a lot of fond memories (and some not so fond) to recall with each other.

As the children grew older, it was always "two against one".......Mary Jean and Tommy against their big brother.

As an aside, in the Roman Catholic religion, children took a "confirmation" name when they turned 11-12 years old. George chose the name "Joseph". From that moment on, his family and most close friends called him "Joe".

There isn't enough "room" on the internet to tell all the tales of this growing up period. Many friends have heard the tales and they probably find it hard to believe. They did---I was there!

When Joe entered the U.S. Army in 1951, he was a 19-year old "kid". He wrote letters to his Mom in which you can see the "homsickness" come out. But you can also see a young man growing up, overcoming adversity and serving his country during the Korean War. To his younger brother, he was a hero in the true sense of the word.

When Joe returned from his duty as an Army officer, he resigned his commission and began the next stage of his life. He married a beautiful young girl named Regina and had 3 fine children. Life was looking good.

Then tragedy struck. In November 1959, he and his wife were involved in a car accident that injured him and unfortunately took the life of his beloved wife. There he was, injured, with three young children to raise. He told Mom that if she would help raise the kids, she would always be taken care of. Mom agreed.

By this time, the younger son, "Tommy" had joined the U.S. Navy and had started his career. He and Joe would see each other on the average of once every two years or so when Tommy would come home on leave.

Joe spent most of his working life in a steel mill in Syracuse. He loved central New York, even with the harsh winters and sweltering summers.

In 1965 his brother had married a young lady from Japan. Joe got a phone call from Tommy, asking him if it would be possible for Tommy's wife to live with him while Tommy was deployed to a place called "Vietnam ". Oh, by the way, the young wife was pregnant and he would have to care for not just his sister-in-law, but the child that was due while Tommy was overseas. Joe agreed: after all that's what brothers do.

In August 1965 Matthew Patrick McLuckie was born in Syracuse, NY....Tommy was still overseas. Joe continued to care for them until October 1965, when Tommy came home. Tommy and his family continued on with their Naval career.

Joe remarried (unhappily, as it turned out) and his Mom moved to Colorado to be with her younger son and his family. Mom died in Colorado Springs and Joe returned for the funeral and burial.

Fast forward to the fall of 1998. Joe placed a call to Tommy, by now retired from the Navy, and told him he needed help. His second marriage had fallen apart and he was extremely depressed and alone. Tommy responded and returned to Syracuse. The brothers talked for 2-3 days, and Tommy convinced Joe that he should come to Colorado and live with Tommy and his family.
Joe agreed, and in May 1999, Joe became a Colorado resident. For the next 9 1/2 years the two brothers talked every day. They spent a lot of their time remembering the "good old days".

Joe had a series of medical problems: aneurysms, colon cancer, prostrate cancer, mild strokes, and by this time, it was the younger brother who took care of his older brother. The boys talked about what to do if things became "fatal". Joe trusted (and had faith) in Tommy that all Joe's wishes would be carried out.

In late Sept, 2008, Joe was advised by his Doctors that squamous cancer had spread throughout his body and he should be put into a hospice. Joe (and Tommy) agreed it would be best. On 1 October 2008, Joe was placed in Pikes Peak Hospice. Tommy gathered Joe's family from all over the country. We visited him every day in the hospice and watched as the life drained from him.

On 18 October 2008, Joe passed away. As per his wishes, he was cremated and placed with the remains of his first wife in Syracuse, New York.

Although Joe is gone for two years now, there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about him. He was the true definition of "big brother" and I miss him terribly.

So on this day of remembrance, I would like to say: "Big Brother, you are missed and loved by many, many people. You are still a Hero to your little brother.



Your "Baby Brother", Tommy