Greg Hohman

Gee and I must have met around the time I started at Markham in the 2nd grade after my family moved from Howe school district. We lived on Ordale, the Peckichs lived on Spaulding Circle. Five boys, no girls. The inside of their house was like no other in my experience: the latest in 70s decor, except for the basement, where we would listen to a stereo. Mr. owned a Bentley or similar. All the Peckichs were sharp dressers. A large tent set up in the backyard for a big sleepover (attended by whom? Bonello, Byron, Camel, Haymaker, McHugh, among others?) must have been removed as an eyesore as soon as the distinguished guests were gone. 

Gee excelled at every sport. He was a natural and trained hard. Here’s a compelling scene for true sports fans: Gee and Phil on hands and knees pushing/slapping around the small wood «puck» used in the «hockey» invented for our small basement. For more about Gee as one of the stars of the 1977 Lebo soccer team: 

https://lebosoccer1977.net/index.html 

An incomplete list of sports we enjoyed: baseball (in the pic I am on the right in the back, next to me is Gee), basketball, boxing, football, ice skating at South Park, sledding at Spaulding Circle and elsewhere (if someone had a lead, we trekked toward it, sleds in tow), street hockey, wrestling. Gee was a golfer too, iirc. 

The class, or many of it, may remember that Gee and Phil hosted a graduation party at Rolling Hills Country Club. 

Although we spent so much time together, Gee was mostly a mystery to me. One reason: he was a «ladies man», which I wasn’t. At Markham, he «dated» Sandy Bloomfield, an enviable achievement. At Mellon, Nancy DeMartin. I don’t remember the names after that. At parties, Gee would vanish to other parties. 

Here’s an anecdote I don’t relish, but document because it is somewhat telling about the kind of person Gee was. During junior-high wrestling practice (Mellon), I, very upset about something Gee had done, confronted him with the ludicrous claim that I could deck him «with one punch». Practically in tears as I shouted it, I will never forget the look of pity Gee gave me. He smiled. He hesitated. Knowing well that nobody present believed me, he didn’t want to add to my humiliation by decking me with one punch. But, yes, he did, leaving me gasping for air after one strategic blow to the chest. He could have walked away, but I didn’t blame him for not doing so. I was the fool either way, and he didn’t prolong my pain. The hesitation, the smile, the look of pity/regret: they have stayed with me. I hadn’t seen Gee since our early 20s. I have a soft spot for him. He died in Atlanta, where he was living with a daughter. There was no obit.

If, as I hope, more memories and photos surface, I will add them here.

Gee and I must have met around the time I started at Markham in the 2nd grade after my family moved from Howe school district. We lived on Ordale, the Peckichs lived on Spaulding Circle. Five boys, no girls. The inside of their house was like no other in my experience: the latest in 70s decor, except for the basement, where we would listen to a stereo. Mr. P. owned a Bentley or similar. All the Peckichs were sharp dressers. A large tent set up in the backyard for a big sleepover (attended by whom? Bonello, Byron, Camel, Haymaker, McHugh, among others?) must have been removed as an eyesore as soon as the distinguished guests were gone. 

Gee excelled at every sport. He was a natural, but also trained hard. Here’s a compelling scene for connoisseurs of pre-teen male games: Gee and Phil on hands and knees pushing/slapping around the small wood «puck» used in the «hockey» invented for our small basement on cracked, uneven tiles and a drain to avoid. For more about Gee's athletic skills, this time as one of the stars of the 1977 Lebo soccer team, visit: 

https://lebosoccer1977.net/index.html 

An incomplete list of sports we enjoyed: baseball (in the pic I am on the right in the back, next to me is Gee), basketball, boxing, football, ice skating at South Park, sledding at Spaulding Circle and elsewhere (if someone had a lead, we trekked toward it, sleds in tow), street hockey, wrestling. Gee was a golfer too, iirc. 

The class, or many in it, may remember that Gee and Phil hosted a graduation party at Rolling Hills Country Club. Kudos to them for a great evening.

Although we spent so much time together, Gee was mostly a mystery to me. One reason: he was a «ladies man», which I wasn’t. At Markham, he «dated» Sandy Bloomfield, an enviable achievement. At Mellon, Nancy DeMartin. I don’t remember the names after that. At parties, Gee would vanish to other parties. 

Here’s an anecdote I don’t relish, but document because it is somewhat telling about the kind of person Gee was. At junior-high wrestling practice (Mellon), very upset about something Gee had done, I confronted him with the ludicrous claim that I could deck him «with one punch». Practically in tears as I shouted it, I will never forget the look of pity Gee gave me. He smiled. He hesitated. Knowing well that nobody present believed me, he didn’t want to add to my humiliation by decking me with one punch. But, yes, he did, leaving me gasping for air after one strategic blow to the chest. He could have walked away, but I didn’t blame him for not doing so. I was the fool either way, and he didn’t prolong my pain. The hesitation, the smile, the look of pity/regret: they have stayed with me. I hadn’t seen Gee since our early 20s. I have a soft spot for him. He died in Atlanta, where he was living with a daughter. There was no obit.

If, as I hope, more memories and photos surface, I will add them here.