Losing Grandpa Gene

One of the tough things of this summer was the death of my dad’s dad, my Grandpa Gene. On June 2^nd he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, it was very advanced and they warned us that the end would be very quick. Little did we know just how fast that would be. On June 22^nd he passed away surrounded by all his Children and a few of my cousins. Those last weeks were incredibly stressful and hard on him but we are all thankful that he was not in pain for long and that he was able to have time with all of his kids in those 3 weeks. I was able to fly out to Baltimore with my family for the week to spend some time helping to tie up loose ends and to spend some time together. Amazingly our entire family was able to be at the funeral, all 4 of the kids, spouses, and all 8 grandkids and spouses. It was a tough week but also full of fun and laughter and the usual insanity that comes with that group of people. There is no doubt that grandpa’s death and cancer was sad and hard on everyone but I’m so thankful for an amazing family that could process it together and still have fun together.

Gpa's Funeral

The Whole Family

The post funeral dinner, good to have everyone in the same spot for a night

Sophie always makes the thumbs up pose and so this is us mocking it...in response to her face here she said, "well you all took my pose, so I didn't know what to do!"...hilarious

We have so many pictures on these steps...funny how when everyone is grown up you can't see the steps at all, to many people on them!

Love this Porch

A crowded Dining room, always full when we were in town

Fells Point downtown Baltimore, this used to be Gpa's police pier

Grandpa's Obituary...

Eugene J. Wysocki

Baltimore police officer

By Jacques Kelly

June 28, 2009

Eugene J. "Gino" Wysocki, a retired Baltimore police officer who patrolled the harbor and spent his free time playing the trombone at East Baltimore social events, died of cancer Monday at Franklin Square Hospital Center.

The Dundalk resident was 77.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Bank Street, he studied music with his father, who was organist at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Fells Point.

Mr. Wysocki also attended its parochial school and the old W.S. Seipp General Vocational School on Broadway.

He served in the Navy during the Korean War and survived a 1951 Narragansett Bay capsizing that claimed the lives of 18 servicemen.

Family members said that Mr. Wysocki was an excellent swimmer, a skill that would serve him in later years. He served aboard the USS Yellowstone.

He joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1956 and was assigned to the Eastern and Southeastern districts. For much of his time with the department, he worked on a police patrol boat, the Charles Gaither, based at Thames Street and Broadway.

"In the time he worked on the harbor, there were fires on the old wooden piers and in cargo holds and disturbances on boats he'd be called out for," said his son, David Tirrell-Wysocki of Canterbury, N.H. "He was a very good swimmer and didn't mind getting wet."

As part of his duties, Mr. Wysocki would be called upon to recover suicide and drowning victims.

His son said that his father, who had an upbeat personality, had a stock reply when friends asked him about removing the dead from the harbor: "Well, at least I never had one of them take a swing at me."

Mr. Wysocki also once saved the life of a man who filled his pockets with heavy pieces of masonry and jumped into the harbor at the foot of Broadway.

Mr. Wysocki dove in the water and retrieved the man, who later thanked him profusely.

On another occasion, Mr. Wysocki was pushed off a pier by a surging crowd that had assembled. Dressed in a heavy turnout coat, he sank to the bottom of the Patapsco, shed the coat and rose to safety, his son said.

Family members said he received departmental honors and later served in the department's community relations section before retiring in 1992.

He played in a police combo, the Sounds of an Era and also performed with the Melody Kings and other groups.

"He'd walk into a Highlandtown bar or social event, and maybe a band would be playing polkas," said Ray Bastianelli, a fellow musician. "Gino would say, 'Let's liven this joint up' and then bring out his trombone and start playing big-band numbers."

Recalled as a born entertainer who loved an audience, he was a devotee of the music of bandleaders Glenn Miller andTommy Dorsey and was recalled for his renditions of "In the Mood."

Mr. Bastianelli, who often performed with Mr. Wysocki, said his friend could play any instrument he put his hands on.

"I don't know what he loved more, his music or his family," said John Kaufman, commander of the Parkville American Legion Post No. 183, where Mr. Wysocki was a member. "He was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren."

His wife of 52 years, the former Eleanor Mazzulla, died in 2003.

Services were held Friday.

In addition to his son, survivors include two other sons, Gary Wysocki of Westminster, Colo., and Christopher Wysocki of Abingdon; a daughter, Linda Gates of Woodstock, Ga.; a brother, Alfred Wysocki of Timonium; a sister, Adele Misiora of Baltimore; and eight grandchildren.