Norma, Jesse and Armando Jose Arvizo
In Jeff's Own Words I was born on January 20th, 1965, in Belleville, IL, the same day Lyndon B. Johnson was inaugurated as President of the United States. Our mother was diagnosed with cancer prior to becoming pregnant so I've always admired her courage to have a 4th child despite the potential danger to herself that could have resulted, however, I'll always remember her saying how the pregnancy contributed to her recovery and how I "helped save her life". I am the youngest of 4 children and unfortunately I have no memories of our house in Clearview as we moved to Rockville, MD in 1969 to follow my fathers career with AT&T. My father's parents died before I was born and having moved away at a young age I only have a few memories of my mother's parents. I've been told that my grandfather had a special liking to me and that my middle name, John, was given in his honor. I remember burning leaves with him once in a barrel in his backyard and his missing fingers on his left hand from a coal mining accident. My grandmother Bertha was a sweet woman with a funny voice who always wore a dress and her whiskers would scrape my face when she kissed me goodnight. Reflecting back I wish I had the 63
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