Growing Up Loved!

By Stephen Uzelac

We often hear people say, "It takes a community to raise a child," and that is what made my life so magical and blessed. My story is about people and family who gave back.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887511719

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Growing Up Loved!

Stephen Uzelac

ISBN 979-8-88751-170-2 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89043-218-6 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88751-171-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Stephen Uzelac

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Words of Love from My Sister Darlene

Preface

Book Layout

Introduction

Part 1

School: The Beginning of Everlasting Friends

Coming to America: My Father's Journey

Love Begins with Togetherness: The Early Years

Family (Fourteen Children)

1948: Franklin Borough, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

My Hometown Hero

He Looked after Us

A Man Many Admired

Some Who Made a Positive Difference

Waking Up to Sunrays

Creative Games: No Joystick Required!

Let the Games Begin

In Business

Low-Cost Fun

The Dump Road

Trash to Treasure

Elderberry Pie

The Mud Hole

Rainy Days

Twenty-Five Cents

Special Days

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Generations: Uzelac Family

Priceless

Testimonials

Along the Way

My First True Friend

Franklin–Conemaugh Rivals

Growing Up on the Other Side of the Bridge

The Bully

The Blue Hole

The Circus Is Coming to Town

The Terrifying Polio Pandemic of 1949: Sister Carol

Bible School and Extended Family

Aunt Mary and Uncle Nat

Uncle John and Aunt Ann

Uncle Mike and Aunt Ann

Aunt Sylvia: Road Trip to New York City

Roots

Second Generation: Through the Years of Creating Portraits of Love

True Love: Siblings

Instant Pudding

A Trip to the City of Johnstown, Pennsylvania

The Point Stadium, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

AAABA Baseball Tournament, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Childhood Christmas in Johnstown

Ed Oparnico and Nick Saula

Lesson Learned through My Triumphs and Setbacks

Conclusion

Part 2

Introduction: Swimming Upstream

What Does He Do for You?

Chapter 1

The Current

Chapter 2

My Moral Compass!

Chapter 3

Unconditional Love

Chapter 4

I Am Not Perfect, but I Try

Chapter 5

The Gift of Life

Chapter 6

Relationships

Chapter 7

The Journey of Getting and Staying Fit for Life

Chapter 8

What Prevents Us from Living Our Dream?

Chapter 9

Earning Positive Power

Chapter 10

Positive Image

Chapter 11

Your Attitude Counts

Chapter 12

Success Begins with Attitude!

Part 3

Memories of My Early Years with Tutu

Muma's Story

Our Muma's Love for Jesus

My Final Thoughts and Family and Friends Photo Gallery

RIP, One of Many Reasons I Love Family

Brother Richard Steps Up

Sister Sylvia Joins the Angels in Heaven: July 2022

The End

Foreword

Looking back, I count the day that I met Stephen as the luckiest day of my life. Struggling as a single mother of a beautiful son, Matthew, I was fortunate enough to land a position in the print shop of Terra State Community College. Though the position was only part-time, it was enough to keep the wolf away from the door in most cases. More than once my phone service was suspended, and once my electricity was disconnected. But for the most part, the job at Terra was a godsend not just financially but because that's where I met Stephen. At first, he was just another name on yet another work order for us to complete and deliver to a mailbox in the main office. That's where I first met him, in the main office, and he was one of the first professors there who ever said: Thank you. I found the work there challenging and very busy with the new academic year about to begin. Instructors dropped work in the print shop mailbox and often just dropped it off in our tiny print shop. Stephen did that and took the time to talk to us, Kay (my coworker and friend) and me. I learned he was recently divorced and had three sons whom he loved deeply. The divorce had left him shattered with deep hurt and longing for his family. His middle son had chosen to stay with him, and I was introduced to Troy. I fell in love with Troy, first. I could see the deep hurt in his eyes and the love he had for his dad. Stephen always asked about Matthew and how he was doing.

Our friendship grew out of mutual respect. I often found spelling and grammatical errors in material Stephen sent to be reproduced, so I started taking it back to him to correct before it was dispersed to students. Stephen joined us in the print shop when we made a crockpot of soup to share and took us to lunch regularly. Kay did her best to get us together. What she didn't know was that it was God telling me, He needs you. I was listening, but I also had some serious trust issues that were only trumped by Stephen's trust issues.

As respect and genuine concern for the other's happiness became paramount, we started spending time with each other and our boys on weekends. Stephen's youngest son, Eric, was two years younger than Matthew. And they got along well with each other. We ate out and went to the movies. We shopped and went to Cedar Point and did all the things that, as a single mom, I could not afford to do. Stephen took Matthew to his first major league baseball game to see the Pirates play. He said that Matthew danced across the Clementi Bridge on his way to the ballpark. Matthew and I owe so many great firsts to Stephen. From downhill skiing to Matt's first car, Stephen was there.

I have found over the years that being there was just Stephen's nature. It wasn't just Matt and me; it was all his boys, his friends/colleagues from work, my extended family, and his extended family. You can count on Stephen.

In the darkest hours after his divorce, followed by a mental breakdown, the death of his mother, cancer treatments that caused him to develop diabetes, a near-death experience during a routine outpatient procedure, the loss of brothers and sisters, and the excruciating pain of deteriorating knees and hips, Stephen remains the most positive person I know. He has changed my life through his intense love of life and all those who touch his life.

Always striving to improve himself, grow, learn, and love, he is a marvel—a marvel that I am blessed to share my life with.

Judy Uzelac

Words of Love from My Sister Darlene

I love these magical words that my baby sister shared with me. Darlene is a few years younger, and she wrote to me in an email:

Bro. You stepped up and helped all of us in our times of need. I always remind you and others of how, as a younger girl, you made me feel extra special, with your positivity and compliments. You were the first to make me feel as though I could be as pretty as all the seven sisters before me! Your generosity made it possible for me to attend my senior banquet by taking me shopping at Kline's, downtown Johnstown, and buying my dress, stockings, and shoes to wear on this special occasion, plus getting my hair done! Furthermore, you took me to Leonard's Shoes and bought me high heels and had the shoes dyed to match my dress. I felt like Cinderella. It was a magical moment in my life, and I am so grateful.

Darlene, I know you get upset when someone posts photos of you, but this is my story. And whether you like it or not, you are a major part of my life, and I love this photo because it shows your happiness and just how beautiful you are. You will always have a magical place in my kingdom. I believe I am at least seven years older, and when I was graduating from high school, you were just arriving in junior high.

Love, Bro (or Brat, Serbian for brother)

Preface

Why at eighty-two have I decided to write my childhood memories and how I got from there to here? Furthermore, why do I want to share them with the world? Because these experiences are the canvas of my life and once the artist is no longer here, his masterpiece will live on for his family and generations that follow. I couldn't paint the picture on canvas, so I decided to write many day-by-day stories that explain my positive life experience of growing up in Franklin Borough, across the bridge from Conemaugh and two miles east of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Yes! It does take a community to raise a child. These three areas had a major role in molding the person I have become. The Greater Johnstown Community left a positive everlasting imprint on my heart and soul. In the photo at the top were brother Dino (RIP) on the left and me on the right. Damn, I was cute!

The photo to the left is an image of all six boys. Bernard stands alone on the right, with me, Richard (RIP), and Pete (RIP) sharing the middle. Next to Dino (RIP) is Sam to the far left. I hope my stories spark your appetite and inspire your heart and the souls of others—such as my children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and others—to write their stories and share their canvas with the world.

Book Layout

Main Street, Franklin Borough

This book is presented in three parts:

Part 1: My first years as a child growing up in Greater Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in a little community, two miles east, named Franklin Borough. This is a collection of stories and what I discovered on my beautiful journey in my magical kingdom, where love was all around me.

Part 2: Is titled Swimming Upstream. It is the how and perhaps the why of how I made it from there to now. I realized I could be more than I thought of myself. Attitude does count.

Part 3: Written by Donald Dino Uzelac, in 2000. Memories of his early years with our father and his testimonial to our mother. Dino will always be my older brother who taught me a lot.

In these final pages, I will share my thought on my children and grandchildren and share a testimonial to my sisters Sally and brothers who are no longer with us, may they Rest In Peace. Sometimes we just call these memories.

For the most part, I had an upbringing that is greater than anyone can imagine, because, in my Magic Kingdom (Franklin Borough), I was loved and encouraged by many people who sparked my imagination by enhancing my life experiences that in a way made every experience feel magical. I can see the fireworks behind every word I write. It was my mother who used to tell me, One small step at a time, and to this day I find myself counting steps. There are fourteen steps from our first floor to our second floor. As I climb those steps, I begin with my sister Millie and end with my brother Richard, the oldest to the youngest. And there isn't one of my siblings whom I love more or less than the other. I count each step for fourteen children and go through my ritual to tell each of them good night and I love you. When I get to the landing, I say a prayer that includes my respect and love for my mother, my father, God, and Judy. On the eighth step, I pause. (The eighth step represents me, and I reflect on my sons and my four grandsons. This is also the step that I reflect in prayer to my deceased daughter, Toni Rochelle, and she walks with me.)

As I reflect on my life, I hear my mother's voice echo as she is praying in the downstairs kitchen and you can barely hear her soft voice thanking God for another day.

At this moment in life, I didn't realize the values she was sending my way. Her soft smile would light up any room, and the warmth of her heart would heat a palace. There were those rough times when she didn't know where her next penny was coming from, yet she knew that her faith gave her hope and hope gave her love. Love gave her family, and together we made it.

Our roots are deeply planted in the hills, valleys, mountains, rivers, and streams of Western Pennsylvania. And I will remain forever thankful to Sava and Minnie (Varnish) Uzelac, our parents.

Introduction

I was born and spent the first nineteen years of my life in a little town named Franklin Borough, just outside Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In this little God-loving community, I learned many valuable lessons that I would use throughout my eighty-year journey. We were happy, blessed with love from parents who cared and gave it all they had to give. Yes! We might have had less than one neighbor and more than another. But we had a roof over our head, food to eat, clean sheets, love, and indoor plumbing. All to be said and done, we had what was important, parents who loved us.

My mother never complained about the things she was missing but was thankful for what she had. She is the foundation of my beliefs and values and will always be the solid foundation of my life. My mother and father taught me more through their actions and words of kindness, encouragement, and love. My father was a hardworking man, who put his paycheck on the kitchen table every Friday and said, Misses [with his broken English], you take care of the family. And if you have a dollar or two left over, may I have, for a beer or two. His needs were simple.

Parental love is the only love that is true selflessness, unconditional caring, giving, sacrificing, deep devotion, forgiving, and endless. It is endless and can be described with an endless amount of adjectives, but I can sum it up in two words, Muma and Tutu (Mom and Dad). To this day, they are every breath I take and every step I make, and I was truly blessed to have been one of their fourteen children.

You may ask: How did they meet? The story goes something like this. During a poker game with my mother's father (Pete Varnish), Pete didn't have the money to cover the bet and told my father he would promise my mother in marriage. Now understand this was before I was born. My mother was fourteen years younger than my father, and he won her in a poker game, the best hand he ever got because she was worth millions. And as life went on, he realized that. Muma was only fifteen, and she told a story of her and Aunt Mary sitting on the steps and eating peanuts. They sat there on her wedding night and watched the men and women celebrate until most got drunk and fell asleep, and she and Aunt Mary climbed the steps and went to bed.

To My Family

Tutu and Muma, thank you, for the freedom to explore and the opportunity to create an