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When I was a little girl of four, after Sunday School, my father would take me down to the tennis courts in Montclair to meet with Mr. DiMilia to make sure the clay courts were perfect for tennis later that day. I knew th whole DiMilia Family. I went to Grove Street School, George Inness and Montclair High School with "Johnny." I knew Lucy, his sister, "with the most beautfiull legs of US all" and Mario who was too good looking to even look at and their dear brother Gino.
Over the years I would run into Johnny not just at reunions but at Paneria, International Pancake House as I once lived in North Caldwell. He was always "on" in such a sweet way as we would talk about fellow classmates.
For the past seven years my husband had been in Arbor Glen dying in and out of Hospice. Every Sunday I would go to the Marlboro Bakery to have a cup of coffee before I would bring baked goodies up to the home. While I was reading the paper a tall handsome young man came in with his two darling children. I happened to look up, ponder a moment and listen to him place his order. Something told me to be brave enough to dare to say, "Are you a DiMilia?" This precious face turned to me and I almost thought I was crazy until I heard, "Yes, I am a Ferrara...I'm Lucy DiMilia's Son." And then we were off on a tirade. I certainly don't know Johnny's voice but I do. I said, "You sound like your Uncle."
I would see him over time. When I heard that God took my childhood friend, King of the Tennis Courts; the DiMilias' the Rockefeller's of the Clay Courts my heart cracked. My heart goes out to Lyn and all of the wonderful extended family. RIP JOHNNY.