Tony Ieradi

Day: November 27, 2024

Biggest Party Night of the Year

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Thanksgiving Eve. One of the biggest party nights of the year. When I was in high school, this night was the beginning of the long weekend. That meant one thing. Kegger at Chester Park. Whose got the keg? More importantly, whose got money for the deposit for the tap? All you needed was $2 and a cup, and this was going to be the best night of the year. Everyone, including the players, where getting tuned up for the big game tomorrow. That’s right, St James versus Chester High. Go Bulldogs!

After graduation, this was the night that the kids that went off to college would be back in town for the holiday. Where are we meeting tonight? Wallio’s Frog Pond, The Liberty, or both? Who’s going down to the Campus Casino college bar in Sun Hill? Man, we’re gonna get ripped!

And after college, it was still a night for the Alumni to get together. For me, who was working at Wawa’s corporate office, the gang would cut out early and head to the Ramada Inn on 202, or The Lobster Pot down the road to start the party. I’d stay most all night with the gang, even though I would be working on Thanksgiving. Sure, it was a pain, but I was getting paid double-time baby!

Wherever you’re celebrating tonight, be safe, have fun, and have a great night!

Born unto the world

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I was born and raised in Chester PA. Chester is where my family was from. I lived with my parents, Doris, and Tony (Boston Blackie) Ieradi until I was 15 years old. Then, I moved in with my Nanny Ieradi, who lived 5 blocks away from my parents, so that she had someone staying with her. When my Pop-Pop died in 1973, my Nanny would not move from their house. So, one of my cousins or other family members would live with her to make sure she was ok. This was a most excellent time for me.

Growing up, I attended Catholic School my entire life. First, I attended Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in Chester, and then St Robert's, and then St. James Catholic High School for boys. As an adult I obtained my bachelor's and master’s degree from St. Joseph's University. And to answer an obvious question, no, I was not Ukrainian. I was enrolled there because by the time kindergarten rolled round, it was too late to get into St Robert's.

 I lived in the same 5 block radius until 1989 when my then wife and I moved to Middletown Township Delaware County. It was an adjustment for sure moving from the city where everything was so close by, to the “country”, as my Nanny Shinners would say, where you drove to places to get stuff or see someone.

Over my life, I have held a few jobs. I started working for the local, legendary convenience store chain named Wawa Food Markets when I was 16 years old. The day after I turned 16 my mother got my working papers and started cutting grass at the corporate office. I then started working in the computer operations department while I was a senior in high school and have held numerous positions in the IT field ranging from Computer Operator to Sr. Director of Data Center Management. I recently retired at 60 after consulting full-time since 2015.

I have three children, two stepchildren, and one dog named Dahlia. My wife Sandy and I have been together for 20 years, and we currently reside in The Villages, FLA. We have owned several homes in Pennsylvania and vacation homes in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, and sold it all for the sun and warmth, with the occasional tropical storm, of Florida.

And here we are!