Roy, Essentially: Family, Work, Moving Machines, Sports and the Color, Red
The son of Italian immigrants, Roy was the youngest of three children and his grandfather’s first-born namesake. As a child in Detroit, he purchased moonshine supplies and carried them in a red wagon. At age 9, he drove a Model A. At 12, in a secret move, he drove his father’s car to school and caused a commotion.
He left high school at 16, missed playing football and took up speed skating. He taught his young daughters to skate, racer-style. At 80, he retired his worn skates; they hang on a steel and red rack that he constructed, now legacy.
Among his favorite early occupations were driving trucks from Michigan to California and operating heavy equipment, especially bulldozers, or “dozers.” When drafted into the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, he operated a ‘Tank-Dozer’ in the Philippines and Japan. He also drove a private Jeep, named and marked “Babe,” in honor of his future wife.
His first new car was a red and white Mercury sedan. In a rare color-switch, he commissioned a metallic mauve paint job for his 1950 Ford F-100; it was a standout. His favorite car, by far, was his red Ford Ranchero; favorite hockey team, the Detroit Red Wings; and, favorite flowers, red carnations. His smallest gifts were often the most memorable, like a T-shirt with a large, red rose from Old Sacramento and weathered toolboxes, painted red, filled with surplus automotive or practical tools.
My dad constructed unique, stand-up scooters with roller-skate wheels and customized bicycles for my sister and I and, later, his grandchildren. Often, they were red. He took his last bike ride at 85; then, he passed down his red, 20-speed bike to his eldest grandson.
Whether on a small ranch outside of Detroit in his 20’s, his cousin’s California ranch in his 40’s or, decades later, in the Colorado mountains, my dad enjoyed riding horses. He cared for four German Shepherds in his lifetime, all named ‘Ritz’.
For many years, he owned and operated a bar and 20 apartments. In addition to managing typical responsibilities, he provided work and a place to live for men who lacked both. He was particularly fond of ‘Clarence’, who was mentally handicapped and ‘Little Joe’, with Down’s Syndrome. During those years, he also engaged in a serious pre-occupation, fixing things, like cars that he later traded, sold or gave to relatives.
After selling the business, at 67, he moved on to less demanding jobs. For 17 years, he drove a commercial van, transporting and escorting disabled adults throughout two counties. At age 85, he officially retired and settled into a more passive lifestyle. On TV, he watched hockey, football and ‘spaghetti westerns’. As always, he was happiest when his children and grandchildren were around. Married for 62 years, he cared for his beloved wife with all of the energy that he possessed.
My father was shy, but ‘a tease’; focused, but funny; overworked, but active; peaceful, but driven; and busy, but organized. Always considerate, generous and devoted, a more loving father and a better friend, I cannot imagine.
Lucinda Palmeri Lambert
November 16, 2011
Survived By
Wife, Lorraine (Pellegrino) Palmeri; Daughters, Joanna (Palmeri) Walsh and Lucinda (Palmeri) Lambert; Granddaughter, Kristen (Walsh) Gallagher; Grandsons, James Michael Walsh and Jesse Roy Lambert; Great-Granddaughters, Courtney and Shelby