Renaissance Man

To the Editor:

The small painted sign on the fence at the driveway’s edge warns, “Beware of Rooster,” but for the 18-plus years I knew Al Maruca, I never saw it. What I did see, and often visited, was a man, a gentleman, with a handshake as strong as a vise, a big heart, and patience as deep as a well.

Embracing the theory that a successful retirement also requires an outside hobby, Al chose to raise Christmas trees. He loved those trees, but even more, he enjoyed the visits from his customers when they came each year to cut a tree for their home. And although he loved the outdoors, the planting and caring of his trees or just watching his black Lab Missy play in the yard, Al was not fond of the summer heat. Taking advantage of the brook that crossed his property, he investigated the “cold water aging” of beer. I participated in this scientific study from time to time and found his work to be most promising.

Al had a deep pride in his home and kept it extremely neat and well maintained, but his basement was a real man’s shop. Filled with jigs and tools, with sawdust littering the floor, it was here that Al crafted so many of his famous corner cabinets. But I believe his true skill was not in construction, but rather in finishing. His advice was always “Patience” and one of his favorite techniques was multiple (sometimes 9-plus) coats of spray coated, hand rubbed urethane that realized a glasslike finish completely free of surface blemishes.

As a young boy, Al met Sergie Rachmaninoff and perhaps this spurred his love of the piano. In his retirement, he would spend hours in the morning playing and make no mistake, Al was very, very good. His signature piece was Rachmaninoff’’s Prelude in C-sharp Minor, but he also liked the work of Mozart and Chopin, the later whom he affectionately referred to as “Freddy.” Yes, Al Maruca was the true Renaissance man, but more importantly, he was a good friend and I shall dearly miss him.

Mark Dennen

6 Old Green Road, Sandy Hook                             December 13, 2005