Condolence: Business travel will, unfortunately, prevent me from attending Mary's wake and funeral this week. My wife will attend Wednesday evening to express our condolences personally.

One of the great things about growing up in our neighborhood was that you didn't have just one mother, you had many. More than anyone, Mary was truly my second mother. I felt like I spent at least as much time in the Damelio home as I did my own. Everybody always made me feel welcome there, especially Mary. Dinner time? Pull up a chair! Come on in--Tony has the Yankee game on!

If any of us kids stepped out of line, I think Mary knew about it before our parents did. And you better believe you'd get read the litany about it! Anthony, how we will ever forget that infamous night at Delbo's?!

Mary always spoke her mind--she didn't pull her punches with anyone. At the same time, she was as kind and generous a woman as you would ever meet. Wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman--she did it all and did it well.

Those of us kids who grew up in that neighborhood were so lucky to have people like Mary as neighbors. As kids, I don't think we really knew how lucky we were.

To Anthony, Annie, Bernie and your families, I express my heartfelt sympathy, and want to assure you that mom will always be in my prayers. I loved mom dearly, and will be thinking about all of you as you work through these next few days.

This was truly a life to be celebrated.