Our Friend Pete

Pete DeArcangelis was a good friend of my brother Rich. They went to school together. Pete was a happy loud fun person to be around. He worked for his Italian Dad at South Water Market selling fruits and vegtables. Pete's Dad never liked my brother Rich, but my family considered Pete as one of the family. He never knocked on the door or rang a bell, just walked in as if it were his own home. He was always happy, loud and fun to have around. He would sing like an Italian crooner and dressed sharp as a tack. The house always lite up when Pete came in. Pete was a real gambler. He knew every horse and jockey at Hawthorn. , He knew every bookie in Cook County. Many evenings if he had nothing to do, he would stop by and play cards with Mom and Dad, laughing and kidding. They were real gamblers. They bet a penny a set and two cents a game. Any amount, Pete didn't care. He just had to bet.

However, Pete was always infatuated with my sister Regina, who had no such feelings for him. She would go places with Pete, only if Rich and my sister Tee went with them. They always had a great time with Pete. After that Regina married Chuck, and Pete knew he struck out, but he still visited Mom and Dad. When Dad died Pete was still there if Mom needed anything from the store or a drive to a bingo game.

Pete married and his Father died and he took control of the vegetable business. Later in life he still was a fun guy to be around. And finally, I heard he didn't survive an automobile accident while driving to Las Vegas. His son and daughter still live in the same neighborhood in Chicago near Belmont and Oak Park ave. I met them a few times and they are as nice as their Father. We laugh at his gambling faults, but we know Pete was the greatest Guy. I could write for hours about Pete. I am sure glad I grew up with him around. What a great friend.

Too bad, it would have been nice to have him as a brother-in law.