I know there are many, many stories about Willie as football, basketball and softball coach, teacher and friend.

8^th grade basketball; I didn’t make the team; another classmate and I wanted to be with our buddies so we were the managers.

When the new convent was dedicated, as I recall Leonard and Alvin and maybe someone else were altar boys and missed practice.  The team had their uiforms on; I was wearing jeans and gym shoes.  Willie asked me to fill in.  I went nuts all over the court.  At the end of prctaice I was cleaning up the gym and collecting balls.  Willie approached with his right arm behind his back.  He said, “Hey Esposito; you made the team” and threw a uniform at me.  I was stunned and thrilled.  I played a few minutes in a few games; the highlight real was finally getting into the score book—for committing a foul.

Many years later at one of our reunions I told Willie what he had done for me and how much it meant to me at that age.  He looked at me dumbfounded and said nothing.  Then, as only Wille could, he said, “Really?  I don’t remember that at all!”  LOL

People who do good deeds and remember them may have a different purpose.  I’d like to think that good people who do good deeds and don’t remember them probably have too many to remember and no personal motive other than trying to be good. 

Willie was a good man.