Pretty cool when you make the front page of the Sports section for one last time. The title of today's post was the title of a piece the Standard Times of New Bedford wrote about my grandfather, Stanley Nowak, on Sunday. He passed away last week at the age of 91.
I've scanned in the story from the paper and you can read it in PDF format here: Download Stanley Nowak Remembered
Pretty amazing story, isn't it?
Stan had been sick for a little while now and old age finally caught up with him last week. He was having trouble swallowing and had been losing weight, so perhaps this was for the best, though it doesn't make it much easier. We're certainly going to miss him.
For those who don't know, my grandfather had quite the list of golfing accomplishments under his belt and during his playing days he was one of the best in Massachusetts. As the article says, he was a very nice and friendly guy, but out on the golf course he was an "assassin". Guys hated going up against him and they even had to change the formate of one tournament because he had won it 5 years in a row. Not only did he win a lot of tournaments in his day, he got a lot of hole-in-ones. 9 of them in total. 9. How amazing is that? I can't even come close to getting one!
At his wake last night so many of his family, friends, and old golfing buddies came by. It was cool to over hear some of the stories that were going around the room. My dad said he wasn't sure if anyone would come since he had made so many "enemies" out on the golf course by taking guys nickles and dimes in friendly matches. They came anyway!
Before we left for the church this morning we all signed a Titleist golf ball [he worked for Titleist for 40+ years] and Bob-dog placed it next to him in the casket. Perhaps he'll use that tomorrow morning when he tees off up there in heaven!
[Stanley's photo from World War II and a photo of him and Bob-dog from back when they played in a lot of father-son tournaments. For those who have seen me out on the golf course, not many of the golfing genes got passed down to me. Oh well. ]
Before we left the cemetary two Army men were there to play Taps and fold and present a flag to Bob-dog. They did the same for my other grandfather a few years ago and that part always gets me. It's so great that our country still takes the time to honor those men that served so long ago.
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A few more shots from the years...and one more of my grandfather and father. I think Bob-dog still has those pants, and I know for a fact he's got the visor!
