John King

St. Patrick's Day always brings to mind John King, my father-in-law.  He was an Irishman in the midst of a large Italian Family and was a very interesting man.  He played in Vaudeville in the early years of the 20th C and played the Palace for 6 months.  He had many Pat and Mike jokes which he loved to tell me.  I was an excellent audience.  His first wife died in 1936 and he eventually married Rose Milea in 1940 after probably a 3 year courtship.  He was 53 at the wedding and she was 25.  He was a little younger than his father-in-law.
They were married for 35 years and had 3 biologic children.  They also had many foster children, some of whom stayed and are an integral part of the family today.  He was full of great stories about growing up in the 19th C. and was just a joy to know.