Imaginator Words

ballygomingo! – interjection. a) exclamation of surprise: Ballygomingo! You scared the b’jeekers out of me! b) utterance of complaint: “Ballygomingo, Jesse,” Murphy groaned. “This’ll take a month of Sundays to clear out.” Note: ‘Bally’ is a common prefix to town names in Ireland.

*banshee! – n. Irish legend of a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house: She sends ’em packin’, screamin’ like banshees, down Windmill Road.

blabber-gab – v. jabber – blather: Gemma blabber-gabbed her thoughts as fast as they came to mind.

b’jeekers! – interjecGon. exclamaGon of surprise or fear: B’jeekers, Jesse! You scared me!

bliss-t – 1) adj. (bliss-ed) joyful, elated, a feeling of blessedness: Jesse had a bliss-t expression and laughed with joy. 2) n. that which is the most excellent or desirable: Mac wished Jesse all the bliss-t on his journey to Elizabethtown.

brillish – adj. a) bright: The day was brillish with sunshine. b) clever, brilliant: He rallied with a brillish idea.

chiggle – v. to laugh quietly: Jesse chiggled at the swimming instructor’s jokes.

*chinquapin – n. (pronounced ‘chink-a-pin’) Algonquin Indian: an edible nut—like a hickory nut; in this book, Light On, Jesse created the baseball-like game of chinquapin: Jesse whittled a clothespin into the shape of a little hickory nut, and he called it chinquapin, using this nut-shaped piece and a stick-bat.

*comestibles – n. prepared food: Gemma told the children to pass the comestibles to the guests.

coolifying – adj. having the effect of making something cool, breezy, refreshing: Jesse took a coolifying dip in the bay.

*diddly-ahten-dah! – interjecGon. playful expression in Irish song tradition: Diddly-ahten-dah! How clever!

diggity-boo! – interjection. catchall exclamation, usually positive in nature: Diggity-boo! Let’s go have fun!

*eejit – n. chiefly Irish or Scottish: slang for “idiot,” fool, halfwit, or nincompoop: Murphy said that Morton had always been considered an eejit.

*fat city – 1) adj. (fat-city) luxurious, extravagant, opulent: See that fat-city house built on a rock? 2) n. a condition of great prosperity or good fortune: Charlie said it was fat city to fix up the Ford A Sedan.

fluthers – interjection. used when distracted or confused; joins ‘flustered’ and ‘feathers’: Grams exclaimed, “Fluthers! Jesse y’ have us all in a daze!”

gahslahzerous – – adj. glamorous, alluring, charismatic: You’re all dressed up! You look gahslahzerous!

gasper – v. to exclaim while gulping or choking: Mac gaspered in utter surprise.

giggle-snickens – 1) n. fun laughter: The children burst into giggle-snickens at Murphy’s joke. 2) v. to laugh uncontrollably with others: The kids were gigglesnicking their way into the barn.

*gobsmacked – adj. utterly astonished or astounded: Grams was gobsmacked at Tilly’s offer to sell her house.

*godsend – n. very helpful or valuable event, person, or thing; as if sent from God: Grams exclaimed, “Oh Tilly! Yer’ a godsend, y’are!”

Great Illuminations – n. another name for Heaven or Paradise, a place filled with God’s Light: Dearie died last Christmas and is now in the Great Illuminations with God.

grimmel – 1) n. closed mouth twisting into expressions ranging from playful grin or suspicion to surprise or disbelief: Jesse’s lips grimmeled thinking of Alice in Wonderland. 2) v. to purse the lips, expressing doubt or playfulness: Jesse grimmeled, thinking, ‘Gemma needs more imagination!’

*gut – adj. (pronounced ‘goot’) German: fine, satisfactory, excellent: “Gut,” Greta said happily. Home does feel good.

Granny Sookers – n. Scottish: strong peppermint candies; sucking them makes your cheeks draw in and you look like an old granny while “sooking”: Mrs. Wilton’s Scottish lilt tumbled out like shortbread and Granny Sookers.

*hoochie-coochie – n. fast, crazy dance, like a free-spirited child: Ellie’s eyebrows seemed to do the hoochie-coochie!

hootled – v. to make a sound like an owl: Jesse hootled like the old car horn, loud and clear.

*hunky-dory – adj. fine, going well;: Gemma, don’t you just love when everything is hunky-dory! Etymology: originated from Dutch sailors in China, where the street named ‘Hunki-Dori’ was the safest place to be; also, in Dutch, ‘honk’ means ‘home.’

Imaginator – n. outside-of-the-box thinker; one with a creative mind: Jesse thought David was a true Imaginator: David made him think differently.

*jiggery-pokery – n. chiefly British: trickery: The magician’s game of cards was a kind of mischievous jiggery-pokery.

*kangaroo word – n. word that contains all the letters of one of its synonyms, called a “joey” word: ‘Masculine’ contains the letters (in the correct order) of its ‘joey’ word, ‘male.’

Light – n. dazzling Light God gave each of us before we were born; inner Light, soul; Jesse was taught to know his Light and shine it out all over.

love-adore – 1) n. darling, dear one: Jesse is a little love-adore. 2) v. to cherish: Dearie love-adores her Jesse.

*malapropism – n. the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, oden with an unintentionally amusing effect: Jesse asked, “Gemma, can you dance a flamingo?” (Instead of flamenco); inspiration for the character, Mrs. Malaprop, in Sheridan’s play The Rivals.

memory-fizz – n. remembrance, reverie: She gazed into the clouds in a far-off memory-fizz.

moogle – v. to speak hesitantly or in a state of confusion or depression: His eyes closed as he quietly moogled an answer.

murmel – v. to murmur, sometimes confusedly or sheepishly: Jesse murmeled, “I wish Theo was … friendly.”

nippity-tuck! – interjection. indication of a sudden decision or idea: “Nippitytuck!” Grams exclaimed, “I’m selling out of Port Haven!”

*penny candy – n. loose candy sold in a large containers or separate bins: Jesse couldn’t decide which penny candy to buy, Mary Janes or licorice.

pilfer-looter – n. thief: “Pilfer-looter!” Jesse gaspered, wondering who stole the two treasure boxes from Gemma’s farm.

quirkle – v. to show an array of emotions: Her face quirkled in confusion.

quizzle – 1) v. a) to ask curiously: “What’s your name?” Jesse quizzeled. b) to wonder or try to puzzle something out: Jesse quizzeled, ‘Where did Morton get the money for all his new things?’ 2) n. (quizzlement) a state of questioning, solving, imagining: Jesse was in a wonderlush of quizzelments.

Rule of Tongue – n. a) rule that one must use only the highest and best words: Jesse spurted, “Rule of Tongue: Let all the words on your tongue taste delicious.” b) expression reminding one of the rule: “Rule of Tongue! No name-calling!”

Rooster – n. wooden sailboat, designed and built by Commander Michael P. Smith; 10 feet long with a lateen-rigged sail: Jesse loved rigging, sailing, and racing the sharp little Rooster sailboats.

rushel – v. to move with a sod, muffled, swooshing sound: Jesse felt Ellie-cat rushel about his legs.

scallylag – v. to dawdle, goof off, waste time: Don’t scallylag—we have too many chores to get done!

shiveral – 1) n. chills, frights, fun thrills: Jesse’s shoulders twitched in a little shiveral. 2) v. to shudder or tremble with goosebumps, fear, worry, or panic: Jesse shiveraled, thinking of the dark trap.

sniggle – n. small reverberating snort-sounding laugh; joins ‘snort’ and ‘giggle’: She snorted a little piggy sniggle.

snorkle – n. a short snorting snore: With a little snorkle, Jesse drifted off to another dreamland.

*snuggery – n. archaic British: a warm, cozy place: Jesse fell asleep on the bed in his cozy snuggery.

*spoonerism – n. accidental switching of the first two letters in a phrase—oden to comic effect: Jesse waited for his fish to swim away, but it only lay still in the water. “My dish is fed!” he exclaimed. (instead of “My fish is dead!)

squintle – v. to peer, look closely: He squintled at her face, looking for a clue.

*tetchy – adj. irritably or peevishly sensitive: Greta tittered to the squawking chickens, “I vill handle these tetchy lady chicks.”

Thinker – n. a thoughtful or clever idea or intriguing fact: Jesse loved David Weiss’ Thinkers, like ‘Maine is the only state with just one syllable.’

thrill-digging – adj. enthusiastic, joyous, excited: He leapt up with a thrill-digging whoop!

*Tinker – n. usually a traveling handyman or jack-of-all-trades who repairs things: The old Tinker was at the back of his wagon, sharpening knives for Teresa Maguire.

tinteling – adj. frosty, bitingly cold: He shivered in the tinteling cold.

*titchy – adj. chiefly British, informal: something tiny: One titchy little thing was bothering him.

tinteling – adj. frosty, bitingly cold: He shivered in the tinteling cold.

trapture – v. to trap and capture: There’s no way out! I’m traptured!

trompe l’oeil – n. visual illusion in art, especially to trick the brain that you are looking at a three-dimensional object: Siobhan thought the submarine-lighthouse was an excellent trick—a real trompe l’oeil.

twirly-purr – v. to wind oneself about, resonating contentedly: Gypsy cat twirlypurred around Jesse’s legs.

whirly-wander – v. to meander and explore without a fixed course, aim, or goal: In the crisp breeze and warm sun, the gang whirly-wandered all the way down to Fort Battery.

whister – v. to speak hoarsely or just above a whisper: In the dark, Jesse quietly whistered to Conor.

wisky-dooley! – interjection. utterance of unexpected, sometimes wild, quickness: Wisky-dooley! Jesse’s bike flew down the hill all the way to the Bay Traveler Hotel!

wonderlush – 1) adj. the most wonderful, awe-inspiring, or delightful: Everything about Windy Hill was wonderlush. 2) n. state of wonderment, amazement, astonishment: Jesse was in a wonderlush of quizzelments.

zippity-pip – adv. very fast: Matts’ took his turn next, cracking the pin, running zippity-pip to the base.

Bach, Johan Sebastian – (1685-1750) prolific German composer and musician during the baroque period of classical music; “Siciliano” is somber and thoughtful; “Sleepers Awake” is bright and joyful; “My Heart Ever Faithful” is sweetly mellow; “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is world-renowned for its bell-like tones; “Air on a G String” is an ethereal piece and one of the most famous cello solos; and “If Thou Be Near” is serene and hymn-like.

Beethoven, Ludwig van – (1770-1827) German composer, conductor, and pianist; his works rank among the most performed of any classical music; “Ode to Joy” is known the world over; in 1811, he was the solo pianist for the premier of his last piano concerto, “No. 5 The Emperor”; by 1814 he was completely deaf and stopped performing; yet, he continued to compose symphonies, chamber music, a Mass (Missa Solemnis), and his only opera (Fidelio).

Brewer, Theresa – (1931-2007) American recording star with the biggest selling version of the song, “Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel In)”— a.k.a. the Nickelodeon Song—written by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum in 1949. “The little girl with the big voice” popped to the top of the 1950s hit parade with perky, relentlessly cheerful songs, then reinvented herself as an exuberant jazz singer with legends Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

Brown, Barnum – (1873-1963) American paleontologist, known as “Mr. Bones,” represented the American Museum of Natural History and discovered the first documented remains of Tyrannosaurus rex in Montana. (Interesting to note: He was named for the circus showman, P. T. Barnum of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus, a.k.a. the “Greatest Show on Earth.”)

Burnett, Frances Hodgson – (1849-1924) British-born, American novelist remembered for her novels for children, including Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).

Chords, The – 1950s Bronx doo-wop vocal group—comprised of James Keyes, Claude and Carl Feaster, Floyd F. McRae, and James Edwards—recorded “Sh-Boom-Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)” in 1954. According to James Keyes, cowriter, the song began its life written in the back of a Buick, ringing in the church-bell sounds of “alang-alang-alang” and featuring “sh-boom,” a popular expression in neighborhoods at the time. The rest of the song was spent giving out the message that everything was okay and “life could be a dream, sweetheart.”

Conté, Nicholas-Jacques – (1755-1805) French mechanical genius and inventor, skilled in pain\ng and sculpture, and unsung hero of the Napoleonic wars, Conté was Napoleon Bonaparte’s chief of military hot-air balloons; and when most of the French instruments and munitions were lost in Napoleon’s 1799 military campaign, he improvised tools and machines to supply bread, textiles, arms and munitions, tools for engineers, and opera\ng instruments for surgeons. In 1795, he invented the composite pencil made from a mixture of graphite and clay, revolutionizing the pencil-making process. Conté is still considered a symbol of the inventive spirit that drives human progress.

Depression (the Great Depression) – (1929-1939) severe global economic decline, characterized by high rates of unemployment, poverty, and food shortages.

Dvořák, Antonin – (1841-1904) world-famous Czech composer, often inspired by folk music of Bohemia; one of his best known and most beloved pieces is The New World Symphony (9th Symphony), written while he lived in New York City. He is also remembered for his opera, Rusalka, which was based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen; later it became the basis for Disney’s original animated film, The Little Mermaid.

Eisley, Loren – (1907-1977) American anthropologist, educator, philosopher, and natural-science writer; spoke and wrote like a poet, with imagination, grace, wonder, and reverence. He also served as President of the American Institute of Paleontology; Head of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, and curator of the Early Man section at the Penn Museum.

Eisley, Mabel Langdon – (1899-1986) wife of Loren Eiseley (see entry above); influential arts administrator, serving as curator of the art collection at the University of Nebraska, which later became the Sheldon Art Gallery; for most of her career, she served as the Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), which was founded in 1805—located in Philadelphia, it is the longest continuously opera\ng art museum and art school in the United States.

Handel, George Frideric – (1685-1759) German-born composer who became a naturalized British subject in 1727; known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concerts. Handel’s music embodies the peak of “high baroque” style, creating the genres of English oratorio and organ concerto, and introducing a new style into English church music. He is consistently recognized as one of the greatest composers of his age, and the Messiah—which includes the iconic “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and “Hallelujah”—is one of his greatest works.

Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene – (1848-1938) Naval architect from Bristol, Rhode Island, Herreshoff designed the first torpedo boat for the United States Navy in Newport, Rhode Island. Nicknamed “Captain Nat,” he was also an innovative designer of motor and sailing yachts, especially the successful America’s Cup defenders between 1893-1920, as well as the Herreshoff 12½ sailing vessel; he and his brother, sons, and nephew operated the still-active Herreshoff Boat Yard in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Holy Bible – (1400 B.C.-90 A.D.) written through Divine intervention by approximately 40 different authors over a period of approximately 1,500 years, it dates to ancient history. The first book, Genesis, was likely written by Moses during his 40 years in the desert and completed around 1400 B.C., making it over 3,400 years old. The last book, John: Revelation, was completed around 90 A.D., which makes it about 1,900 years old.

Each Biblical author wrote with a different style, a different perspective, to a different audience, for a different purpose. Thus, the Bible is filled with prose, poetry, song, parables, literature, and history. God’s miracles—God’s Magic—in all the Bible lessons have stood the test of time; and interestingly, with abundant archaeological data now available from cutting-edge technology, the Bible has proven to be correct concerning people and events, both historically and geographically.

Horn & Hardart Automat – Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart began their partnership in 1888, opening their first lunchroom and bakery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; in 1902, they pioneered the revolutionary first American fast-food concept, introducing prepacked sandwiches, ready-made meals, and desserts dispensed via coin-operated vending machines. They established their first Automat in Times Square in the heart of New York City; by 1952, 171 Horn & Hardart Restaurants and Automats operated throughout Philadelphia, New York City, and Baltimore, serving 750,000 people a day. Though the last Automat closed in 1991, there has been a recent revival of interest, with Horn & Hardart relaunching its coffee and exploring innovative automation concepts for the future.

Houdini, Harry – (1874-1926) Born Erik Weisz in Hungary, American magician and escape artist Harry Houdini became famous for his ability to break free from all kinds of bonds and containers—from prison cells to aerially suspended straitjackets.

Hoyle, Sir Fred – (1915-2001) English Physicist credited with coining the term “Big Bang Theory” in 1949; though he was actually an active opponent of the idea. He was mocking astronomer Georges Lemaître (1894-1966), who believed that the universe began as one single point that exploded 13.8 billion years ago and stretched to its current state. Hoyle supported the “steady state model” and was an important pioneer of the “Stellar Nucleosynthesis Theory,” or Theory of the Elements, explaining that supernova explosions of stars created the common and rare elements we know on earth, such as carbon and plutonium. (Interesting to note: In 1983, Hoyle was let out of the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work on that theory, when it was awarded only to his colleagues.)

Hudson, Henry – (c. 1565-disappeared June 1611) English explorer who made several journeys along the American coast in his ship, the Half Moon. He discovered and named new places: the Hudson River (in present day New York state), Hudson Bay, and Hudson Strait. In 1610, he attempted to winter in Hudson Bay, but his crew mutinied and set Hudson and a few companions adrift, never to be seen again.

Humperdinck, Engelbert – (1854-1921) German composer of Hänsel and Gretel. First performed on December 23, 1893, the opera features a treasure that will live forever in the hearts of countless listeners. It is called “Abendsegen” in German; “Evening Prayer” in English. Also known as “The Children’s Prayer,” it captures the purity of the children’s innocence and faith as they fall asleep, lost in the woods.

Jeremiah – (650-600 B.C.) Young Biblical prophet of God, called to bring warnings to the crumbling kingdom of Judah (caught between the warring Egypt and Assyria) and to turn the people back to God. Jeremiah is often called “the weeping prophet,” because he shed tears over the sins of his people and their open rejection of God. He lived a life of hope in the grace of God through his ministry, sacrifice, and faithfulness. God told Jeremiah: “I knew you before you were born. I have a plan for you… for your good… and a hope for your future.”

La Rosa, Julius – (1930-2016) born in Brooklyn, New York, La Rosa entered the U.S. Navy where one of his peers pushed his friend’s singing talents on TV Show Host Arthur Godfrey, who hired the singer as a regular on his variety show. La Rosa stayed on the show from 1951 to 1953, introducing his most famous song, “Eh, Cumpari.” Italian-Americans claimed it as their own, enjoying the fun, wacky mix of dialects from the old Southern Italian neighborhoods. The rest of the country helped make it a national success, singing and dancing to the catchy tune and the rollicking Italian lyrics. “Eh, Cumpari” hit No.1 on the Cash Box chart and No. 2 on the Billboard chart, with La Rosa awarded the title of best new male vocalist of 1953.

Menotti, Gian Carlo – (1911-2007) Italian composer, librettist, director, and playwright, Menotti wrote his first opera, The Death of Pierrot, by the age of 11. In the late 1920s, he immigrated to America; studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia; was mentored by Arturo Toscanini; and collaborated with Samuel Barber. After many successful operas, he won the Pulitzer Prize twice. His Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors (1951) was the first opera composed for American television and first aired on Christmas Eve of 1951. It was so popular, it became an annual Christmas tradition and one of the most frequently performed operas of the 20th century.

Michelangelo – (1475-1564) Michelangelo di Lodovici Buonarroti, born in Florence, became Italy’s most celebrated sculptor and painter; in 1508, Pope Sixtus IV commissioned him to paint the ceiling in the new Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome. In four years, Michelangelo created scenes from the Bible, Genesis to Revelation. The center ceiling panel shows God reaching out to touch Adam; it has become one of the most reproduced images of all time.

Montgomery, Lucy Maude – (1874-1942) Canadian author of beloved classic novels and short stories; best known for Anne of Green Gables (1908), the story of the spirited orphan, Anne Shirley. Montgomery was born in Clifton and grew up in Cavendish, both picturesque townships in Prince Edward Island in Canada. The small idyllic farming community of Cavendish inspired the fictional town of Avonlea in her works.

“O Holy Night” – In 1843, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877) an agnostic French poet and wine merchant wrote a poem entitled “Minuit, Chrétiens” (Midnight, Christians); in 1847, it was set to music by Adolphe Adam (1803-1856), prolific French composer for opera and theatre (including the ballet Giselle), thought to be Jewish; the resulting piece, “Cantique de Noël,” premiered in 1847. Soon after its debut, the French Catholic hierarchy learned that Cappeau was an atheist and banned the song from use in church, but it was still sung everywhere else at Christmastime. In 1855, American John Sullivan Dwight (1813-1893), a Unitarian minister and school music director unable to preach due to a speech impediment, translated the lyrics into the song we know today.

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, trench warfare temporarily ceased on Christmas Eve when the French soldiers sang the carol to their Prussian enemies. On Christmas Eve of 1906, Reginald Aubrey Fessenden—a Canadian-American electrical engineer and inventor—put his scientific advancements in radio to the test, playing “O Holy Night” on violin over the airwaves to an audience within a 12-mile radius in Brant Rock, Massachusetts. It was the first Christmas carol ever played on radio. This carol was destined to endure— despite barriers of impairment, atheism, censure, or warfare.

As Father Angelo proclaims in this book, Light On: “With God nothing is impossible; God took a skeptic, a nonbelieving Jew, and a man hindered by his voice, and together, these three unconventional creators produced the most powerful, magically beautiful music of this blessed season, welcoming baby Jesus! The Light of the World!”

Piaf, Édith – (1915-1963) Édith Piaf, born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and lyricist who rose from poverty to become France’s national chanteuse in the 1950s and one of the 20th century’s most celebrated performers. In 1945 Paris, Piaf wrote “La Vie en Rose” (1945) in Paris, using a popular French idiom signifying optimism, love, and joy—or “life through happy hues”—the iconic song was inspired by her friend Marianne Michel. The melody was composed by Marguerite Monnot, songwriter, composer, and Piaf’s main collaborator and dear friend, as well as Louis Guglielmi, a.k.a. Louiguy, a successful composer for films. In 1946, she first sang it live to standing ovations; in 1947, she recorded it as a single and it made Piaf internationally famous.

Pyle, Howard – (1853-1911) American author, illustrator, and teacher best known for his influential 1883 book, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, which shaped the modern image of Robin Hood as a noble, swashbuckling outlaw, emphasizing Robin’s heroism, camaraderie with his Merry Men, and fights against injustice. Pyle also wrote classics: The Story of King Arthur and His Knights and Men of Iron. He was an artist connected with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and the Brandywine School of Art (mentoring well-known illustrator N. C. Wyeth, father of Andrew Wyeth); he created illustrations of vivid images for his books and published stories.

Rachmaninoff, Sergei – (1873-1943) famous Russian romantic composer and pianist; immigrated to the United States in 1917, fleeing the Russian Revolution; best known compositions: “Piano Concerto No. 2” and “Rhapsody on a Theme from Paganini.”

Shakespeare, William – (1564-1616) English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist. His use of language helped shape modern English, and he invented or recorded almost 2,000 new words, such as lonely, alligator, eyeball, gossip, and hurry. Also, in his play, Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare created spoonerisms (see Glossary of Imaginator Words), but called them “Dogberryisms,” after a character, Constable Dogberry, who often spoke this way.

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley – (1751-1816) author of The Rivals, a five-act classic comedy with sharp wit and enduring humor, first performed in 1775 London at Covent Garden Theatre (now known as the Royal Opera House). With memorable, hilarious, and endearing characters like Lydia Languish and Mrs. Malaprop—whose linguistic blunders coined the term “malapropism”—the play became a favorite of George Washington.

Smith, Michael Phalen – (1917-1989) United States Navy Commander, self-taught naval architect, and father of this book’s author, Smith designed and built boats all of his life—from boats on the Clinton River in Michigan to prams and skiffs on Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Born in Capac, Michigan, he grew up on a farm, fell in love with the sea, and entered the United States Naval Reserves at 17; he sailed tall ships on the Great Lakes; rose to Commander United States Navy; served in WWII in the Pacific theater and in the Korean War, where he earned commendations for heroism and bravery; became Executive Officer of the Newport Naval Station, Newport, Rhode Island. As a boat designer and builder, he became known for his 10-foot-long “Rooster,” a lateen-rigged wooden sailboat originally built in Jamestown, Rhode Island.

Staten Island Ferry Fire and Explosion – (June 25, 1946) at the Staten Island Ferry’s St. George Terminal, flames under a car quickly spread to a nearby paint shop, igniting two horrific blasts that killed three people and injured 280. Sheets of fire 30 feet high blazed through the docks and destroyed the railroad terminal, as well as the four big ferry slips used for Manhattan, disrupting crucial ferry service for commuters. The damage was estimated at $2 million.

Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village – (1942-1947) a New York City residential development built to meet the urgent need for housing after World War II, especially for returning veterans. It was spearheaded by Metropolitan Life on 80 acres in lower Manhattan, comprising 110 buildings with over 11,000 apartments. Set in a serene park-like environment, it boasted open green spaces with tree-lined paths, landscaped courtyards, and playgrounds. Today, it is still a sought-after property.

Tarras, Dave – (c. 1895-1989) Ukrainian-born, third-generation American klezmer clarinetist and bandleader, widely regarded as one of the most influential klezmer musicians of the 20th century. After immigrating to New York in 1921, Tarras became a central figure in the American klezmer scene, known for his virtuosic playing and innovative arrangements. He performed on radio, recordings, and live events from the 1930s to the 1950s, contributing significantly to the klezmer revival. Notable works include compositions like “Tango” and performances of traditional tunes like “Gypsy.”

triboelectric effect – also known as “contact electrification,” a charge of electricity generated by friction or objects rubbing together, like a rubber balloon against human hair producing the effect of static electricity; in this book, David said. “Sailing is a lesson in physics, beginning with the triboelectric effect of the electrons on the surface of the sail, that are swept away by the wind.”

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – VPO; German: Wiener Philharmoniker; orchestra founded in 1842 and considered one of the finest in the world. It is based in Vienna, Austria, in the classic building known as the Musikverein.

Williams, Ralph Vaughn – (1872-1958) renowned British composer, traveled throughout England in 1904, collecting local folklore music and arranging it for voice. He first heard the Sussex Carol sung at Monk’s Gate in Sussex and discovered that the text was written by Luke Wadding (1628-1687), a Franciscan bishop, in 1684.

White, E.B. (Elwyn Brooks) – (1899-1985) American writer of highly popular children’s books, including, Stuart Little (1945), Charlotte’s Web (1952), and The Trumpet of the Swan (1970); co-author of The Elements of Style, an American English style guide for formal grammar; and poet of works, such as “The Spider’s Web,” published in periodicals and gazettes. Interestingly, In 1921, he graduated from Cornell University where tradition dictates that any male student whose surname is White must be nicknamed “Andy” after the school’s cofounder Andrew Dickson White. Disliking his first name, Elwyn, White gladly answered to “Andy” for the remainder of his years.