In Loving Memory of John Kos
10/31/1926 - 7/10/2014
Father of three, Grandfather of five, Great-Grandfather of four.

To My Grandpa,

Today is your favorite holiday again. My, oh, my, you loved Halloween. Halloween was your birthday. Today you would've turned 90. So, I say you to, Happy 90th Birthday in Heaven! Make it a fantastic one!

You loved your birthday cake. It was always a cake with fruit on top of it. Nothing brought a smile faster to your face than having your family surround you for another wonderful birthday celebration.

Growing up, after I, Travis, and Lauren would go with my mom and aunt trick-or-treating down a few streets in Astoria, NY, we'd always come to your house. You'd be waiting for us. You were so glad we had arrived.

I have the fondest memories of not just your birthday, but everything you were around for.
You were around for the first 17 years of my life. I had just turned 17, the day before you became an angel.

You taught me so much. It's the simple things that I do and I remember them because of you:
Sleep on your left side, you'll get rid of your cold faster.
Always wear socks, without socks, that's how you get sick.
How to put on a jacket without the sleeves of your shirt riding up.
You were wise.

Growing up, Saturdays were my favorite days. Saturdays were spent with you, Grandma, and the rest of the family. After a week of school, my aunts would gather around the dining room table in your apartment catching up over some coffee and whatever delicious meal you and Grandma had made for lunch.

You were quite the chef! Everything you cooked was simply delicious. Everything from spaghetti with clam sauce on Fridays during Lent (because we couldn't have meat on Fridays) to the turkey salad and soup you used to make with any leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.

You used to make fish and tell me it tasted like candy to get me to eat it. I'm laughing at the thought of that now.

You were around for 87 years -- 87 wonderful years! Even at 87, you were still good looking with a full head of hair (I hope you passed those good genes on to me)!

A few years back in 2011, when you had turned 85, my aunts and I found this old photo of you from when you first came to this country. We framed it and gave it to you -- you were overjoyed.

You loved your garden. You used to grow your own vegetables in your backyard.
During harvest season, we'd all enjoy some salad from the yard. No other tomatoes have ever tasted so delicious!
The roses and flowers that you cared for in the front of your house are still blooming.
The grapes you grew on the balcony were still growing there this past summer, too!

All of us have the most wonderful memories with you. We look back now and we just laugh. All of the birthdays -- all of the Halloween's with you were just wonderful.

Every November, for All Soul's Day, you would go with me and my aunt to visit the cemeteries and place flowers at the graves of our loved ones. I promise I'll be visiting you soon.

There's so much I have to tell you. There's a lot to tell grandma, too, who I know joined you this past February. I know you're both watching over me. You're both watching me continue my life at Adelphi. I now have two angels watching over me. We all do.

I know you're watching over me. I've seen the signs.

We all have. Keep sending them.

"My heart is happy with the memories we share, you were the best Grandpa on earth, no other can compare."

I hope you have a great 90th Birthday in Heaven.

Rest in Paradise,

Your Youngest Grandson,
--Tyler