Obituary for Andrew Vee
When my Mother, Frances, passed away in July of 2003, Dad and I never got over her loss. Now, my Dad has passed, and I have another loss I will never get over.
I know this is the natural cycle of life, but Dad is the last member of my family
which makes his passing doubly difficult, not only for that reason but because of what a great person he was and the loving husband and Father he was.
My Dad was the baby of a large family. His Father, Nicholas, his Mother, Jenny, his
6 brothers {John, Victor, George, Peter, Nicholas, and Christopher), and his sister, Margaret, were his wonderful role models. After Dad married my mother of 57 years, Grandmother, Mary Bright and my Grandfather, Franklin Bright, became his role models, as well, and great ones they were, too!
Dad's Mother was Roman Catholic and his Father was Russian Orthodox, but
when Dad married my Mother in this church, and knowing that my Mother's
family had been members of this church for generations, he knew this was the church for him.
Andy loved the First Presbyterian Church and his fellow parishioners. Dad was always a sentimental soul. He loved calling as many members as possible on their birthdays throughout the year and singing his version of 'Happy Birthday' to each one. In fact, Andy just loved people in general, which carried him through his life a happy man. When he had to be admitted to the Veterans' Home in Paramus in February 2017, I noticed how being around people again really perked him up, having been in a hospital bed at home for 2 years.
My Mother and Dad were very social people. They threw parties at home for their friends; they went to dances and joined many organizations; we went to many Broadway shows over the decades; we swam at the Montclair Beach Club for over 50 years; and, we always went out for dinner every Sunday after Church. Because my Mother graduated from Juilliard and the American Academy of Dramatic Art, our lives were filled with laughter, singing and dancing.
Dad was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Rutherford High School Alumni Association and the Roundtowners in Montclair, just to name a few groups.
My Father was the wonderful sole support of our family in many different ways. He was generous and never complained about giving of himself. He even put me through 3 different institutions of higher education, as if he had had 3 daughters, and never blinked an eye! He loved me that much.
Dad and Mother taught me my love of animals from the time I was 3 years old. When one of our cats, Puffer, died two years after my Mother passed, I would find Dad sobbing upstairs in the study. He could not believe our Maine Coon that was 23 years old had finally left us! I honestly did not see my Dad cry as much when his own Mother died at 103!
On Dad's birthday in 2007, I found a note he had composed and left on my Mother's dresser: "Dearest Cheryl, for 57 years, the only birthday present I wanted was for YOUR MOTHER to share the day with me. For 54 years, the only birthday present I wanted was for YOUR MOTHER and YOU to share the day with me. For the past 7 years, the only birthday present I wanted was for YOU to share the day with me. Love always, your Father." That message is still sitting on my Mother's dresser to this day.
Besides loving his family, Andy loved our town of Rutherford, Rutherford High School, the Ohio State University, and the United States of America.
Dad graduated from Rutherford High School in 1939. He attended games and supported RHS for decades, long after he graduated. He tried to recruit some of the better athletes to attend Ohio State University. He was Chairman of his high school class’ 50th reunion. His own class gave him a plaque to honor him, and they called him “Mr. Rutherford” on it.
Andy graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He was a track star there and pround member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Dad was friends with the famous Coach Woody Hayes, for 45 years. Dad continued to scout here for local talent and sent newspaper articles to many of the coaches of different sports at OSU. Dad was responsible for getting Jack Tatum of Passaic onto Ohio State’s football team. The various coaches always wrote letters to my Dad, which I found in the cellar files, in appreciation of his efforts to find the best talent.
Dad left for World War II in late 1944, from Camp Silbert in Alabama. He was part of the U.S. Army Company A, 93rd Chemical Mortar Batallion. He went to France and Germany by ship. He made us laugh when he told us most of the guys on the small ship were seasick and he was not, so he was able to take advantage of all the meals they were not eating! Dad spent a couple of years firing mortars at the Nazis. Like most of the Greatest Generation who returned from the horrors of war, he never spoke about his experiences or about what he saw. You had to ask him questions if you wanted to know anything, and even then the stories were few. He only told us what he wanted us to hear. He told us about the time he and his buddies had to hide in a river pipeline to avoid being machine-gunned when a Nazi regiment came down a road near them. He told us about his Commander making him-climb to the top of a church steeple to find the Nazi location so they could take them out. Dad always said, "I didn't stay up there long because I knew if I could see them, they could see ME!" Dad came home from World War II on Independence Day, July 4, 1945. He entered Boston Harbor by ship, and he wrote in a short memoir that it was a
"beautiful, sunny day". The one thing I find hard to believe is that my Dad fought
in World War II, yet he never flew on an airplane in his life because of the fear of
heights. Dad took photos of a couple of concentration camps after the Americans
freed them, but he hid the photos so well that I have never found them. Neither
have I found his gun which he says he put in the attic after he emptied all the ammunition into the Passaic River.
As far as his employment was concerned, Andy was a regional salesman basically for two companies in his lifetime, for very long periods of time. He was an excellent salesman at, Reynolds Aluminum and then at Handy and Harman. His boss at Handy and Harman was another of our sorely missed parishioners, Clark Zitzmann. Dad customers loved him for being a friend and a gentleman, and for his low-key sales approach. They absolutely trusted his judgment and integrity.
My Father was a moral, devout Christian.
Andrew was a devoted, loving Husband and Father.
My Dad was a gentleman's Gentle Man.
He was a self-made man, with the help of God.
Dad, may you rest in Peace and Joy after a long, meaningful, wonderful life. May you be surrounded by Mother and all your Loved Ones, in a perfect world, under the wise, loving care of Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ.
I am forever grateful and proud to call you my Father, and I will always love you.
Family will receive friends Monday 3-7pm in the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home,19 Lincoln Ave., Rutherford.
Funeral Tuesday ~ Arriving 10 am in Funeral Home for 11am Prayer Service at the First Presbyterian Church, Rutherford.
Interment in Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Montclair.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:
the First Presbyterian Church
One East Passaic Ave., Rutherford NJ 07070
I know this is the natural cycle of life, but Dad is the last member of my family
which makes his passing doubly difficult, not only for that reason but because of what a great person he was and the loving husband and Father he was.
My Dad was the baby of a large family. His Father, Nicholas, his Mother, Jenny, his
6 brothers {John, Victor, George, Peter, Nicholas, and Christopher), and his sister, Margaret, were his wonderful role models. After Dad married my mother of 57 years, Grandmother, Mary Bright and my Grandfather, Franklin Bright, became his role models, as well, and great ones they were, too!
Dad's Mother was Roman Catholic and his Father was Russian Orthodox, but
when Dad married my Mother in this church, and knowing that my Mother's
family had been members of this church for generations, he knew this was the church for him.
Andy loved the First Presbyterian Church and his fellow parishioners. Dad was always a sentimental soul. He loved calling as many members as possible on their birthdays throughout the year and singing his version of 'Happy Birthday' to each one. In fact, Andy just loved people in general, which carried him through his life a happy man. When he had to be admitted to the Veterans' Home in Paramus in February 2017, I noticed how being around people again really perked him up, having been in a hospital bed at home for 2 years.
My Mother and Dad were very social people. They threw parties at home for their friends; they went to dances and joined many organizations; we went to many Broadway shows over the decades; we swam at the Montclair Beach Club for over 50 years; and, we always went out for dinner every Sunday after Church. Because my Mother graduated from Juilliard and the American Academy of Dramatic Art, our lives were filled with laughter, singing and dancing.
Dad was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Rutherford High School Alumni Association and the Roundtowners in Montclair, just to name a few groups.
My Father was the wonderful sole support of our family in many different ways. He was generous and never complained about giving of himself. He even put me through 3 different institutions of higher education, as if he had had 3 daughters, and never blinked an eye! He loved me that much.
Dad and Mother taught me my love of animals from the time I was 3 years old. When one of our cats, Puffer, died two years after my Mother passed, I would find Dad sobbing upstairs in the study. He could not believe our Maine Coon that was 23 years old had finally left us! I honestly did not see my Dad cry as much when his own Mother died at 103!
On Dad's birthday in 2007, I found a note he had composed and left on my Mother's dresser: "Dearest Cheryl, for 57 years, the only birthday present I wanted was for YOUR MOTHER to share the day with me. For 54 years, the only birthday present I wanted was for YOUR MOTHER and YOU to share the day with me. For the past 7 years, the only birthday present I wanted was for YOU to share the day with me. Love always, your Father." That message is still sitting on my Mother's dresser to this day.
Besides loving his family, Andy loved our town of Rutherford, Rutherford High School, the Ohio State University, and the United States of America.
Dad graduated from Rutherford High School in 1939. He attended games and supported RHS for decades, long after he graduated. He tried to recruit some of the better athletes to attend Ohio State University. He was Chairman of his high school class’ 50th reunion. His own class gave him a plaque to honor him, and they called him “Mr. Rutherford” on it.
Andy graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He was a track star there and pround member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Dad was friends with the famous Coach Woody Hayes, for 45 years. Dad continued to scout here for local talent and sent newspaper articles to many of the coaches of different sports at OSU. Dad was responsible for getting Jack Tatum of Passaic onto Ohio State’s football team. The various coaches always wrote letters to my Dad, which I found in the cellar files, in appreciation of his efforts to find the best talent.
Dad left for World War II in late 1944, from Camp Silbert in Alabama. He was part of the U.S. Army Company A, 93rd Chemical Mortar Batallion. He went to France and Germany by ship. He made us laugh when he told us most of the guys on the small ship were seasick and he was not, so he was able to take advantage of all the meals they were not eating! Dad spent a couple of years firing mortars at the Nazis. Like most of the Greatest Generation who returned from the horrors of war, he never spoke about his experiences or about what he saw. You had to ask him questions if you wanted to know anything, and even then the stories were few. He only told us what he wanted us to hear. He told us about the time he and his buddies had to hide in a river pipeline to avoid being machine-gunned when a Nazi regiment came down a road near them. He told us about his Commander making him-climb to the top of a church steeple to find the Nazi location so they could take them out. Dad always said, "I didn't stay up there long because I knew if I could see them, they could see ME!" Dad came home from World War II on Independence Day, July 4, 1945. He entered Boston Harbor by ship, and he wrote in a short memoir that it was a
"beautiful, sunny day". The one thing I find hard to believe is that my Dad fought
in World War II, yet he never flew on an airplane in his life because of the fear of
heights. Dad took photos of a couple of concentration camps after the Americans
freed them, but he hid the photos so well that I have never found them. Neither
have I found his gun which he says he put in the attic after he emptied all the ammunition into the Passaic River.
As far as his employment was concerned, Andy was a regional salesman basically for two companies in his lifetime, for very long periods of time. He was an excellent salesman at, Reynolds Aluminum and then at Handy and Harman. His boss at Handy and Harman was another of our sorely missed parishioners, Clark Zitzmann. Dad customers loved him for being a friend and a gentleman, and for his low-key sales approach. They absolutely trusted his judgment and integrity.
My Father was a moral, devout Christian.
Andrew was a devoted, loving Husband and Father.
My Dad was a gentleman's Gentle Man.
He was a self-made man, with the help of God.
Dad, may you rest in Peace and Joy after a long, meaningful, wonderful life. May you be surrounded by Mother and all your Loved Ones, in a perfect world, under the wise, loving care of Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ.
I am forever grateful and proud to call you my Father, and I will always love you.
Family will receive friends Monday 3-7pm in the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home,19 Lincoln Ave., Rutherford.
Funeral Tuesday ~ Arriving 10 am in Funeral Home for 11am Prayer Service at the First Presbyterian Church, Rutherford.
Interment in Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Montclair.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:
the First Presbyterian Church
One East Passaic Ave., Rutherford NJ 07070