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Our memories...
It's very easy to allow my Dad's health conditions to overwhelm your memory of him. After all, he had his first heart attack at age 44. He suffered with diabetes and a heart condition for almost 3 decades and more chronic conditions were added to the mix throughout the years. There are a lot of people who would have let their health dictate how they lived their life. Instead, my Dad chose to live life the way he wanted. Sure, there were restrictions to his diet and activities, but he didn't let it hold him back. We went on family vacations. He helped with school projects. He went to school functions. He did everything his health allowed. He even worked well beyond the time many people would have given up and retired. When he did retire, he still didn't let his health stop him. He continued traveling with my Mom. A month long tour of the country and trips to visit family in Georgia and Indiana were a few of those happy times for him. I will never remember my father as someone whose health conditions defined him. Life with my Dad taught us all that being flexible and doing what you can, when you can, is the right way to live. If you don't feel good today, you don't cancel plans; you just postpone them until tomorrow. And more times than not, you'll find tomorrow is a sunnier day anyway. What I believe kept my father going strong for so many years was the fact he did things his own way. He didn't worry about what others thought and went out of his way to impress no one. Yet everyone who met him had incredible respect and love for him. He taught us all that you can make an impact just by being yourself. He freely expressed his views and loved to discuss and debate those views in the most passionate and animated manner you could imagine. Through everything that happened in life, he never lost his sense of humor. His smile and laugh were infectious. He touched not only our lives, but those of everyone he met. You also can't talk about my Dad without remembering that he had a deep love for all living things whether they are plant or animal. The birds in our yard are still the best fed and bathed on the block and the neighborhood wildlife always knew there'd be something for them in our yard. Anytime there were animals outside, my father was sure to be watching them and probably teaching us something fascinating about them that we'd never take the time to learn otherwise. Most importantly, he truly loved his family. He wanted nothing more than for us to be happy. I’ve never seen love as strong as that which my parents share. It's a love that will not end with his death. Dad, you said that you wanted to be buried with a headstone so there would be proof that you existed. If you were here today to look around this room, you’d see more proof that you existed than you could ever imagine. - Michael Gatti A downloadable PDF version of the eulogy is available here.
Emil's Obituary Gatti
Emil R. Click here for a downloadable PDF version.
When I think of Emil my mind pictures his laughter which was boisterous and his strong viewpoints on issues of dinner table discussions/debates. I believe in over 25 years of knowing him we never had a harsh word with each other even though we debated various issues and sometimes never agreed. My last thought of him will be when I said good bye and Happy New Year to him in December of 2007 and he was so thin and ill. I probably knew then it was the last time I would see him alive, but he was gracious to us all as we said our farewells. I hope he's cooking with his parents in Heaven now as Grace and Peace surrounds him!!!!!!!!! - George Stroup, brother-in-law
I will always remember Emil with much love and admiration. He was my boss, but was always someone I could talk to and I thoroughly enjoyed the years we worked together. He was funny, stern, tough, easy, intense and moderate all rolled into a great guy. I learned alot from him and will never forget all the good times. The pictures on this website were great and a wonderful tribute to a special person. - Andrea Stone, former employee
It has been many years since I left the Social Security office in Mt. Holly as the Adm. Aide to Emil. We had so many good years together. I couldn't ask for a better "boss" or friend. I have always been sorry we did not stay in touch but life has a funny way of taking you in different directions. With the passing of each day the love still remains in my heart for Emil, Nancy and family. - June Harmon, former secretary
I am an aspiring genealogist and it resulted in my re-acquaintance with Nancy, my Dad's first cousin and her wonderful husband Emil. What a delight it was to hear from Nancy when she wrote back to my query about our family history in April of 1999. Nancy was wonderful, sending me loads of information about our family as well as priceless pictures of our ancestors. She was the best! I finally met Emil and saw Nancy again in person when I lived briefly in Delaware in 1999-2000. I found Emil to be warm and wonderful. I also really loved seeing how in love Nancy and Emil were after all those years of marriage. They were like kids! Emil and Nancy visited us in Colorado a couple of years later. Was great to see them and hear stories of when they were young and first together. My husband Greg and I were very sorry to hear about his passing. Emil will be missed and remembered fondly always. Our hearts go out to Nancy, Michael and Jennifer and the entire family. I lost my dad too and understand the pain, which never really goes away. After 16 years of missing my dad, I realize all we can do is be grateful for having a wonderful father - some never experience that. And Michael is doing this, as evidenced by this beautiful web site he built. Michael, you are inspiring me to finally do something like this for my dad. - Suzie Stoutenberg, Nancy's cousin
I think that all of us who attended White Township Elementary School in the 1940s have a special relationship. Of course, we attended Belvidere High School together and made new friends but the White Township kids still had that connection. The first picture and the eighth grade picture of Emil on your site bring back special memories of him. I lost touch with many of my classmates when I went to college. After Bill and I were married we moved to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. In 2001 we moved to within 30 miles of Emil and Nancy and were able to reconnect. It was wonderful getting to know them as a couple and traveling with them to the class luncheons. I will always remember Emil as being a very friendly person and always had something cheery to say to everyone. He is missed by all of us but he leaves a smile on our faces when we think of him. - Jeanne Neidig Burgie, elementary & high school friend
One thing comes to mind when I remember Emil. Harry and I had tickets to the River Sharks game one summer night. I asked Nancy if she would like to go with us and she replied that Emil would enjoy it. I clearly remember that when we arrived, Emil was not feeling well enough for the walk from the car to the entrance. It was a long walk but he managed to get to the entrance with patience and determination. He never complained. He just did it. With Nancy's help, he got to the elevator for handicapped guests and then walked to our seats. He enjoyed the game and the company, ate a hot dog, and drank a soda. I'd always admired Emil, respected his attitude, and enjoyed his sense of humor but, mostly, I highly regarded the special relationship he and Nancy had for thirty some years. They were lucky to have each other. By the way, they were fortunate to have two wonderful children as well. - Debby Wolf, friend
I especially remember one incident about Emil. As I'm sure you know, he had a temper. One time he was going to fight with another guy (I don't remember who). We were all standing around watching. Some of us said to the two of them, "Take off your rings", and they did. I remembered this because of the contrast to the fights I saw in California, both as a student and teacher, where kids might even use a roll of coins in their fists. To me it shows how the kids in Belvidere cared about fairness, a rare quality nowadays. - John Laue, high school friend
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