Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Tony was a star athlete at St. Peter's High School in New Brunswick,NJ in the early 1950's. He was the second person from our family to go to Rutgers University and also played sports there. After he left Rutgers he joined the Army at the end of the Korean War.
Tony became a star in the Army playing Football,Basketball and Baseball for the "Big RedOne" of the First Army. He travelled all over Europe. He even played in Sicily. The Silcilian team had another Calamoneri playing, but they did not speak,juut nodded since neither one spoke the other's language.
As time progressed Tony's teammate, and friend, on the Army Basketball team was getting discharged. His friend was going to get a job in NYC but he had never been there and had no idea where to go. Tony arranged for his friend to get discharged through Camp Kilmer in Edison,NJ. Tony gave his friend directions to walk to his house and stay with his parents in Edison. Tony's parents set the friend up to stay in Tony's bedroom and live with them.
His friend went to NYC and got a job with Mr.Abe Saperstien, of the Harlem Globetrotters, and he became the Captain of the team.
His friend was introduced to our family at an exhibition game at the old Rutgers gym in the late 1950's.
Tony's friend's name was Meadowlark Lemon.
