Goodbye Lefty, I hardly knew ya.

[ctyhntr]

I only knew him as Lefty. I met him at Paradise billiards, when I filled in as Tournament Director for Duc or Mio. He would come in with his pal, Jack the Cop. They were partners at NYPD.
If someone came up to me asking for Joseph San Pietro, I wouldn't know how to answer. Like many in the NYC pool scene, I only knew him by his moniker; Flaco, Reyito, or Parrot (Wellington).

 

[sjm]

I knew Lefty well but never knew his real name until today. He was already a regular at the Golden Q poolroom in Queens, New York when I began playing there in the mid-1970s. I always liked him, but our paths crossed only occasionally over the last twenty years. He made it into his late 90s in life and may have even reached 100 years of age.

As a player, he was a straight pooler first and foremost.

He was a World War II veteran and was once chosen to be the "military honoree of the game" at a New York Mets game. It really meant a lot to him.

RIP, my friend. Gone but not forgotten.

 

[maha]

when i used to play george at the Q i think it was that guy lefty that would come over some times and watch and talk to george.