Rufie: A Political Scrapbook

[bobbbiez]

I wonder if this book will actually be fact or fictional. It does have my curiosity up. I guess throughout the years we've heard some much about this man and always wondered if we'd ever really know the truth.

To many he was a saint and to many others he was truly hated and feared. Wonder if this book will finally describe the real Rufie.

[Swimmy]

Doubtful. The truth is often lost over the sands of time. And in a climate where the truth was buried easily and effortlessly, i doubt you'll ever know the real rufie.

[bobbbiez]

Hanging around that crowd politically for many years I probably know more then the book will tell. Just curious to see if all will be printed.

[stoney]

When my mother died in 1983, he sent a cake to my step-father from "Uncle Rufie". I had no idea he had any connections with my asshole stepfather, or I would have begged for a better job than with a Non-Profit!

[fiona]

Rufie??? I used to wait on him down at Uncle Henry's.He always wore a fresh carnation. And left me $5.00 for a cuppa coffee! He knew my mother, who was born and lived her whole life in the East end. When I married asshole number 1 Rufie called the house and told my mother to tell me "Not to marry him" My mother talked about it for years afterwords, always in a hushed voice, as if God himself had come into our kitchen and say down at the table and had coffee! I shoulda lissened t' Rufie, but then, at 18 I never lissened t' anybody. For years later she would shake her finger in my face and say "Ya shoulda lissened!"

[tanouryjr]

Love him or hate him, one thing is for sure - he would've never allowed Utica to be destroyed by the gang from Rome. My father battled him for years. They hated eachother, but my father always said he respected him. He was well organized and also would have never allowed Utica to lose its Water Board.

[bobbbiez]

Fiona, did you work with little Joanie? Just loved that woman. She was always, in her words, trying to "fatten me up." ;D

When I was a member of the Democratic party, Uncle Henry's was our meeting place and hang out. My late husband was related to Henry C.

Left the Democratic party because of Rufie. My group were the young Democrats coming onto the scene and we got tired of Rufie acting as if we weren't there. He never listened to any of our new ideas to better the party or checkout the new people we thought would be good candidates for different positions. We got tired of being ignored and being dictated to and eventually all of us left the party. Sad, because of Rufie the Democratic party lost many hard working and dedicated young people who just might have made a hugh difference in the party.

[tanouryjr]

Bobbiez - Nothing has changed. The leaders still do the same thing and are chasing young people away from the party still. It's all a big ego trip and power game. That's why we need an independent movement. Scrap all the labels and get rid of the power brokers.

[stoney]

Bobbiez, I got involved with the Democratic party back in the 70s. I joined the West Utica Democratic club & became its secretary. I don't think it was so fragmented back then & seemed to be a cohesive group. I don't know what's happened to it now.

[stoney]

Incidentally, Ray Stefano was the chairman of the OC Democratic party back then; super guy.

[bobbbiez]

Yes, knew Ray very well. "Nice guy" but hard-headed. You're talking about the old Diplomat days in North Utica.

You must have known another very good friend of mine, "Tiny" Williams and another, Bob Oderkirk.

I'll bet you and I met somewhere along the way in those days. ;D

[stoney]

Tiny, yes; Bob, no. We probably have crossed paths, Bobbie! Did you know Harry Hertline by any chance?

[Clipper]

I went to school with Tiny Williams' daughter Elizabeth, and Bob Oderkirk was my boy scout leader when I lived on Keyes Rd. Politics back then were different. There were very active party members, such as Cavanaugh senior, Mike McGuirl, Tiny, that kept the party line out there in the public eye on a daily basis. I remember listening to Tiny in the barber shop talking while he got his haircut, and Mike McGuirl for hours at his bar on Eagle St. they were people that believed in the party and were dyed in the wool Democrats.

[stoney]

Cavanaugh Sr. was a committeeman, I believe? That was before my time, as were the others.

[Clipper]

Yes he was, and he was a very active committeeman too.

Hey he and Mike McGuirl knew how to keep the beer flowing by keeping the political discussion hot and heavy, haha.