The Bottom 6

Xavier (the mayor and father of 4)

Xavier was the best man at my wedding. He was and still is the leader of the bottom 6. When he was born the sisters all checked under his diapers to make sure it was a boy. We had had 6 girls in a ROW.

Xavier was an excellent basketball player and even better in the classroom. He was an excellent model for the bottom six. He also liked doing house work which was very unusual for a Cuban boy.

I have way too many stories, but one that sticks out in my mind was the time we went to Georgetown U. to play a little pick up ball. We won about 10 games in a row. After about 6 or 7, i was ready to quit, but Xavier said NO !! we do not leave until we lose.

In 1976 he drove from Boston to Miami and passed by Jacksonville. He was driving an old car that burnt as much oil as gas. I could hear and see him coming up University Blvd and wonder, wow it must be tough to be a Harvard graduate.

When practicing law in Miami, he once took a boy home as the courts guardian. The boy cleaned out his house of the few possessions he had at the time.

Everyone i meet who lived in Miami during the 1980's knows Xavier Suarez. Most people in Tampa do not know who their mayor is. Xavier met the Pope, the Queen and Presidents, but the one that impressed him the most was Mother Teresa.

We hope someday Xavier will be the US Ambassador to Cuba.

Charlie (T-rex)

Charlie is our gentle giant. Charlie loves music and loves to play basketball. Even at 60 yrs of age, he plays 2 or 3 times a week. At all weddings and family reunions, Charlie has the basketball ready.

Charlie love of music was passed on down to the bottom 6. We all grew up loving the Beatles and Beach Boys. Charlie always had a bag of games for long car trips to the beach or to Atlanta or other cities my sisters lived in.

I will never forget Charlie for taking the effort to travel to Tampa to see my boys play basketball. He has taught numerous nephews and nieces how to shoot the Rock including me back in the 1960's and my sons in the 1990's.

Charlie is every one's favorite Uncle.