Anthony "Grandpa" Basilo: 1918 - 2009

It saddens me deeply to report that my grandfather passed away this morning at the age of 90. I was discussiing this with a friend of mine (who also recently lost her grandfather), and she brought up how, to many people, the loss of a grandparent doesn't "count." There's this view that grandparents are "supposed" to pass away, and that it's just a part of life. Because of that, people don't always recognize how significant and painful the loss actually is.

I was exceptionally close to my grandpa. We'd have dinner practically every night at my aunt's house, and I was always responsible for driving him home. Four nights a week, for the past five years, I've been driving him home from dinner. We had created a special bond, I'd like to think, and I was seeing him more than many relatives in my immediate family. He was a wonderful man that touched many, many lives, and I miss him deeply already.

If you have a moment, please take a look at this video I made for my grandpa's 90th birthday celebration. Ignore the muted sound, because apparently the Frank Sinatra Estate are threatened by the 25 views this video has received: