Gail Freckleton Antonelli



Biography

I have been very lucky in my life. Although my dad died as I entered 6th grade at Indian Landing, my mother, an amazing person of integrity, intelligence, courage and humor, took over my dad’s independent insurance agency and provided a good life for my brother and me. She was determined that I would be a college graduate so, when my grades at Penfield High School did not meet her standards, I was subjected to tutors. I entered the U of R in the Fall of 1960. I was not a good student and almost failed out until I realized that life without a college degree was not for me.

I majored in Fine Arts which, of course, made me practically unemployable but those were the days when a liberal arts education seemed to prove that you could learn. I found a job in the Personnel Department at the U of R. I worked there for over a year until I married a friend of my brother, a medical student/US Air Force Officer and I moved to St. Louis. The marriage was mercifully brief. I came back to Rochester and found a job at Kodak in Public Relations. I did not anticipate that I would ever remarry but, in 1983, at the age of 40, I married a truly wonderful man named Warren Harms. He retired from Kodak and I envied that freedom. When an opportunity came my way, I took a very early retirement. Our life together was great until he had a massive stroke on Christmas Eve 2004. I had to let him go the next day and I did not do well with my grief. I said I would never marry again.

Johnny Antonelli, a widower I had met at the CharBroil restaurant, waited until Warren had been dead for one year before he asked me out to dinner. Many people in the Rochester area remember John as a Major League Baseball Player and owner of several Firestone Tire stores. Although I adored him I told him I would not marry again. We were married in September 2006. Because of John’s association with the New York and San Francisco Giants, I was able to meet several of the great players from the golden age of baseball. When my 50th U of R Reunion was pending, I spent a small fortune on a new outfit but, because I was with Johnny, no one noticed me. Like Warren Harms, he was gracious, bright and a lot of fun. He was exactly as he seemed to be. We had a wonderful life until he was diagnosed with cancer, endured the torture of chemo and lost his battle just before the COVID lockdown in 2020. I miss him every day but I remind myself that I had two great loves and I have terrific memories.

I live in the same Pittsford NY condo that Warren and I purchased over 25 years ago. Other than one new hip and one new knee, I seem to be in reasonably good shape both physically and mentally. I would have predicted that my life would net three children, not three husbands. I proved that age does not bring wisdom by acquiring a Miniature Schnauzer puppy for my 80th birthday. She joined my 8 year old male Schnauzer. I still travel (Danube River last Christmas with my beloved friend/stepdaughter Tekla Harms and her husband) and I take art classes at the Memorial Art Gallery. I am one very lucky old broad.

Best Regards to all.

Gail