Harry & Diane St John

John Mellencamp came to mind when I wanted to introduce this month's couple... a little ditty about Harry & Diane, but then I remembered that the song goes "a little ditty about Jack & Diane". So, either Diane gets a new beau or Harry changes his name. Although, Harry IS a Jack of all trades. Or, maybe I can think of another song, like "When the Saints Go Marching In". Harry & Diane St. John marched into our club and bailed us out of a major dilemma. They made our new club logo come to fruition by letting those 76 trombones blow the competition away. Their company produced our new jackets, shirts and hats just the way we wanted and at a discount for our membership. Thanks, Harry & Diane, the new stuff looks great. The fact that Harry & Diane came to us from Tony Soprano's neighborhood of Jersey City, NJ had absolutely no influence on our decision to use Di's Unique Designs to produce our new club apparel. Bada bing, bada boom.

Destiny played a big part in this marriage of 44 years. Harry & Diane were the original frick and frack. They grew up all but 2 blocks from each other. Later, Harry's family moved to Fairlawn, NJ but back in Jersey City is where Diane lived...right across the street from Harry's dad's auto repair shop. All those years, they exchanged glances in the neighborhood, attended the same schools and later discovered they had pictures taken at the same studio with the same backdrop. Now it took until high school for Diane to pretend not to notice Harry stalking her. Diane pretended not to watch Harry, the cleanest mechanic she had ever seen, combing his hair and NOT looking at her. Harry's plan for this part of his life was to join the Navy. He and his best friend were going to join the Navy on the buddy plan. So, Harry shang-haied his buddy to the recruiter on the day he finally met Diane. Harry's pal spent the next couple of years swabbing the deck; Harry spent those same years swabbing Diane!

They have 4 kids and 8 grandkids. They started their life right after high school. Harry had a '51 Chevy that was outfitted with a hot-rodded Blue Flame Corvette six banger. Somehow, he managed to hang on to that car for a little while, but station wagons were now the main source of transportation to carry the family into life's adventures.

Harry's working experiences are diversified...from being a trained mechanic to working for S&H green stamps, to working heavy construction where he was involved with pre-stressed concrete slabs. If you don't know what that is, talk to Harry at our next meeting. Widen your horizons! He also worked for Erie and Lakawanna Railroad as a brakeman. At the railroad, Harry's job was affectionately known as the "Hump Job". Harry made his career at United Airlines, from which he retired.

Diane had a variety of jobs as well. She worked in the garment industry making and designing things for major retailers like Lane Bryant. She worked at Atlantic Reserve, ShopRite grocery store. She was also a waitress, managed an Arby's and a TCBY store. She also worked as a toll collector. The toll collector job was on a private road and afforded alot of free time which Diane put to good use designing their Hernando Beach home. Diane is the artsy one in the family with talents that include oil painting, water color, drawing and a plethora of other mediums.

The couple also owned and operated an ice cream store that they were forced to open in January. January in North Jersey...it's no wonder that the first day's receipts were a whopping $36!!!! All of this while raising 4 children!

It wasn't all about work for these two. Somehow, they managed to enjoy boating, hunting, even ice fishing in the lakes of New Jersey. Early on, Harry even did some stock car racing. Later, at age 59, he got back into the racing circuit with Legends cars, where Diane was with Harry every step of the way. They are still race fans. They have seen Nascar from all angles...from the infield to the Miller's sky box. They met and had dinner with my favorite driver, Rusty Wallace, in a little out of the way place in Dover, Delaware. Should I mention that Rusty was back in Victory Lane on April 18th in Martinsville? Nah, I won't mention that.

Now, you all know a little about Harry & Diane. So, when you see them drive
up to our meetings or events in Diane's red '89 coupe...that's right, DIANE'S
vette, a gift from Harry...don't be shy. Say hello and buy a club shirt.

Butch Uzzo

Send any questions or comments to : ncvette@tampabay.rr.com