Valerie Piontek
I remember growing up sitting around the table at my grandparent’s house listening to my uncle telling stories about the fun and mischief he had growing up with his brothers and cousins.
My most vivid memory of Uncle Ray is when I felt he literally saved my life. I was about 4-5 years old playing in the yard at my grandparent’s house when the neighbor’s St. Bernard dog Ben decided to pay a visit. Ben, a normally friendly dog was feeling a bit too playful that day. He came running over to me, knocked me down and proceeded to sit on me! I began screaming and kicking trying to get Ben to move and of course he did not. Being only 4-5 years old, my imagination was running wild. I thought I was going to die but, luckily my uncle heard my cries for help and came running across the yard to rescue me. Uncle Ray, picked me up, calmed me down & carried me back to the house where I sat on his lap until I was no longer afraid.
