"CHAPIN"

Tony Zeleski,

known as "Chapin",

was coach

of St. Vincent’s

grade school football team.

A former boy at S.V.O.,

still in the grips

of the "Great Depression",

he resided

in the workmen’s quarters

of the orphanage.

With little family

of his own,

he felt family

with the boys of S.V.O.

Often,

cigarette in hand,

he’d chat with boys,

along the hedge row

ending at the entrance

to the playground.

Mischievously bent,

he one day had a boy

call over to him

various others,

one after the other,

to watch the smoke

from his cigarette

pass through his eyes.

As each boy

fixedly looked

into the coach’s eyes,

he felt a burning cigarette

near his hand,

or

arm

or

foot.

How old "Chapin" burst

in merry laughter,

at each boy’s

startled ouch!

(August 26, 2002)