L-R-Eric Wolf Schoen, Adelmo ‘Chubby’ Costantini, Carrie Schoen
By Eric Wolf SchoenFriends, we put aside the problems of the world this week and honor my second father, Adelmo ‘Chubby’ Costantini of Yonkers on his 97th birthday this past Sunday. This special occasion was most certainly filled with emotion for me, my sister, and his family.
The Schoen’s and the Costantini’s have an over 50 year friendship dating back to the days when Chubby’s dear wife Antoinette and my mom, Rita volunteered in the office at the old School 13 at Park Hill Avenue and McClean Avenue. When their kids, 4 for Antoinette and 2 for Rita moved to the what we would call the ‘The New School 13’ on McClean avenue south of the old school, their teamwork continued. They did anything that the Principal wanted them to do including running the rexograph machine to raising money yearly for UNICEF on Halloween.
One year when Unicef was involved in some political controversy, they were forced to go outside of school grounds to collect the money children gathered during their Trick or Treat neighborhood jaunts in the little orange boxes. Just shows how they both provided support for their own children as well as the children of the world.
You would always find Antoinette and Rita in the school doing whatever task needed to be done. Never a no, always a yes! Antoinette was a terrific baker who brought many delicious home baked goods to school functions to raise money. Rita’s best friend was Ms. Entenmann’s, quite often forgetting to plate the baked good like it was homemade leaving it in the box with Entenmann’s stamped on the bottom.
It was November of 1978. Dad had a heart attack ultimately dying within a month. I was 18, in my first year of college and devastated. Thank god I had a full tuition and fees academic scholarship, or college would have been out of the picture for me or at least very hard to finance.
I needed a tie for the funeral, but didn’t know how to tie one properly. Chubby came to the rescue showing me how to tie a tie, and from that moment on Chubby has served as my special second father.
Chubby as those who affectionately know him call him graduated in 1944 from Saunders High School in Yonkers. His favorite teacher was a Dr. Kleitz, a man who would steer a career path for him. He graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy, and served two years at the end of World War II.
He was called into service in the Navy as a Lt. Jg in Korea in the fall of 1952 and came home in the fall of 1954. He served on the USS Haven, a hospital ship stationed in Inchon Harbor, and then the USS Great Sitkin, an ammunition ship. His title was Chief Engineering Officer on the ships.
And engineer he could. You know if you have an engineering question he will always have the answer. Whether it be as a leader in the Boy Scouts creating the wooden cars the boys would race, or building a sewing room for his wife, a fine seamstress, right through his living room. My grandma had a fondness for big, heavy mirrors, and when we moved from Bruce Avenue to Spruce Street I remember watching in amazement how he mounted these huge heavy things on the wall, perfectly.
Chubby has been active at Mt. Carmel Church on Park Hill for many years, and with the advent of Covid truly misses attending daily masses. He would always arrange for Father Vinci at Mt. Carmel to visit my mother in the hospital. My mom, who grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family always believed in covering all her bases. Chubby’s wife did her fine dressmaking for many Jewish customers and mom’s friends from Temple Emanu-El on Rumsey Road. Mom would often bring Chubby and Antoinette to affairs and parties at the Temple, and so many people would come over to them to say hello or vice versa.
A new Rabbi’s wife who Antoinette sewed for could not believe how many Temple Emanu-El members Chubby and Antoinette knew. But that was Yonkers. Everyone no matter what your race or religion were friends.,
When I became Bar Mitzvah, I gave the honor of lighting a candle on my cake to Chubby and Antoinette. Antoinette spoke about the honor for so many years after my special day. They joined relatives from around the globe, but I felt she and Chubby were such an important part of my life that they truly deserved the honor.
Chubby goes to the cemetery every Sunday to spend time with his beloved Antoinette. She was larger than life, and her loss put a big dent in the beautiful Costantini family. Like her husband she is an angel, and as he often says she is watching over him everyday. I know my mom and dad are closely at her side.
Chubby’s youngest brother died way too young, and he watches over his son and wife just like he is a father to me. Up until Covid he traveled around the states visiting his children, their children and his great grandchildren using his engineering skills to make their lives better. There was always a project for Chubby on his arrival at their homes.
There was a problem with the boiler at my complex recently. Sitting in the car he offered a solution to the problem, his engineering skills still intact.
So instead of going to visit them, his 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren visited him for his 97th Birthday. As his family grows, he becomes more prouder of their accomplishments, a small television set sits on the kitchen table where they can send daily pictures of the goings on in their lives. Family and friends are so important to Chubby.
Christmas Eve afternoon is when his family gathers to celebrate Christmas every year. Every year there are more people at the table. And every year he talks about using his engineering skills, breaking down a wall in the dining room so that the family can all sit at one table. Everyone knows with Chubby it’s never too late to happen.
So his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and family including Carrie and this writer raise a cup of coffee, his favorite beverage to toast chubby on Birthday 97, and wish him many more years of good health and happiness surrounded by those he loves and who love him. And we all thank him for being who he is and such an important part of our lives. And encourage you to do the same to that special person who means so much to you.
Happy Birthday Dad. I love you!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com, or friend him on Facebook Eric Schoen…just look for him in the picture with Joan Rivers!
