Good Morning Gloucester

I recently took a photo tour specifically to see nesting puffins at Machias Seal Island in Maine last week. It’s been on my bucket list and the trip was made with our puffin sightings along with many other interesting birds. It was a trip that included 3 lighthouses, 3 boat to tender transfers without getting wet, several dozen puffins and hundreds of other nesting birds. I was very worried about all the transferring between boats but I made it with all my equipment intact and mostly dry! It was a 2 hour ride to the boat launch, an hour out to the island with very restricted access and tightly held rules. Only half our group could go onto the island at a time to spend an hour in teeny tiny blinds. The other half waited on the moored boat. The nesting terns were brutal and required sticks for protection. But it was all worth it! Here are just a few of the photos. I highly recommend giving it a try even if you think you don’t especially like birds (Joey and Chris I am talking to you). Many additional details and photos can be found at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook. This was definitely in the “adventure” category.

Brian referenced in the letter is Brian Tarr on of my dad’s best buddies. Brian was a Bentley grad and wrote a letter of recommendation for me. They both mercilessly busted each others balls, similar to how my friends and I interact. I was 19 when I typed this letter out and stuck it in the mailbox, my dad was 44, nine years younger than I am as I compose this blog post.

DeNucci referenced in the letter is Alex Denucci, son of Joe DeNucci State Auditor Joe DeNucci.

From Joe DeNucci’s obituary-

Joe DeNucci died on September 8, 2017 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease

Joe grew up in Newton (Nonantum) Mass. He graduated Newton High School when as a junior he stated his professional boxing career. Joe was a top ranked contender and has the distinction of having the most boxing matches in the history of the Boston Garden. He was inducted to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago. After his boxing career ended, he was elected in 1977 to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served as Chairman of Human Services and Elderly Affairs. Joe was then elected State Auditor in 1986 and was the longest-serving Auditor in the Commonwealth’s history where he served 24 years before retiring in 2011. 

My Dad Libby passed March 21, 2017, just months apart. two strong Italian men.

Anyway here’s the letter I wrote my dad from my college dorm room in Oak Hall, Bentley College.

This posting is for people who need a break from wildlife. It is representative of the marine traffic that passes our house (except for the train).

Light Strip…

Father’s Day offers an opportunity for some reflection on the Gloucestermen who brought me back to the home of my ancestors. The Immigrant Timothy Ryan was the first Irishman who made his way to the shores of Gloucester to begin this story. His son, William is shown here in the black and white photo presumably taken in Gloucester with his wife Catherine (whose family was no slouch in the fishing story of Gloucester either). It was probably taken in the early 1930s. The other photo of a man holding a baby was probably also taken around 1930 is of my dad (the baby) and William’s son, his father. Also likely taken in Gloucester. The final picture is also my dad with his dad: Paul M. Ryan Sr. and Jr. taken in 1972 (not in Gloucester). These men led me directly here, to this blog, to this Father’s Day podcast, to this Gloucester life. And I could not be happier. I hope your story leads you to similar happiness.