This is to pay tribute to my cousin Rosalene Scanlan, to clarify where is she came from and all who had loved her dearly. Auntie Niva past away a very long time ago, she left behind two daughters Rosalene and Dorothy, and in Memory and Honor of our Aunt Niva and her daughter Rosalene, who also just past away last week from diabetes. I'll acknowledge the Scanlan side, or my dad's side of the family in this post.
I would like to recognize the best I can who remains of my Dad side of the family. Dad's parents, Grandma Nese and Papa Sililo Scanlan who were both deceased by the time I entered High School. According to Dad he arrived here in Hawaii with three of his siblings as an adolescent and eventually worked his way through High School along with his siblings to be able to graduate from Farrington High. It was unfortunate when he was told by his older sister Agnes that they couldn’t afford for him to play any sports like football, and that he had to go to work to make it economically feasible for all of them to survive living in Hawaii together. He than returned to American Samoa and worked for Papa Sililo as a plumber for a period of time, than courted and got married to Ma. Papa Sililo health eventually eroded and he became ill and past on from Cancer. Dad and ma made the decision to return back to Hawaii after giving birth to both Luana and myself in American Samoa, and as Ma was pregnant with Berna with Hawaii as her birthplace along with Sisi, Gina and Patrick. Dad and Ma eventually started to make a living than to support us all, and hasn't stopped since until Dad retired from Pepsi Cola just last year, 31 years total. He now works part-time now, but just until Ma's fully retired herself in a few years at the age of 62 to be eligible for social security, and she herself is very close to the 30 year mark in working for Taco Bell.
Well Grandma Nese eventually made it to Hawaii as well after another one of Dads' siblings were well established with a place for her and employment for themselves to support her. I do believe her daughter's Aunt Agnes, Eileen and Niva were all involved in this process in accommodating grandma Nese until she herself had passed on. I do remember Grandma Nese chained smoked, and that she had this skill of holding and balancing the used used ashes on a cigarette butt until there was none left to smoke. I was simply amazed by this act from my grandma Nese at such a young age in what little I remembered from her.
Papa Sililo and Grandma Nese overall had 11 children, and by going through the list of their offspring, I believe it goes in this order from senior to the youngest:
Pedro, or Gaisoa (Deceased)
Agnes
Leo, who is my Dad
Lui (Deceased)
Tino (Adopted from our extended family)
Niva (Deceased)
Mike
Junior, or Sililo (Mystery)
Eileen
Gus
Mickey
Uncle Pedro (Gaisoa) was the last from our Scanlan family that past on due to diabetes before Rosaline as well. He left behind his wife, Auntie Mele who became deceased shortly after uncle Pedro did. Thus remains their two daughters, Aggie and Glenda with husbands and children of their own.
My Uncle Lui had past on long before Aunt Niva did, from a car accident that involved a drunken driver that was ultimately the cause of his death. It occurred while both Lui and my immediate family were living in Palolo Valley Housing. It specifically occurred at the corner between the parking lots of Sacred Hearts Academy and St. Patricks Church, where everyone attends Catholic masses every Sunday today. He left behind Aunt Joann, his daughters Dawn, Patricia and his son Erick.
Uncle Junior has been missing in action since we were still living in Palolo Valley. He has become a mystery to us all, he's left behind Bonney his wife, his son Mark and his daughter Ginnie, whom existence are all also a mystery. Before Uncle Junior went missing in action, I recall him having a prestigious job as a Butler and Bodyguard for the Lt. Governer of Hawaii Jean King (a Caucasion woman) at that time. He was her driver and protector during her time in office in the early Eighties. You know he also could've passed as being "Mr. Samoa," because of he was built solid like "The Rock!" Maivia. He wasn't into steroids either, just into old school hard knox work outs in a sweaty musty filled gym.
Uncle Tino is also somewhat of a mystery as well. The last time I saw Uncle Tino was on our road trip to Reno, NV. My dad, ma and myself drove went on a road trip from Edmonds, WA. to Reno, NV. and back in 1992. On are way there we made plans to travel through Lincoln city, OR. to visit Uncle Tino, his wife, son and daughter. It was very early morn by the time we got there, and had a couple hours of shuteye before we ate brunch with Uncle Tino and then were off again zooming south on Highway I-5 heading southeast to Reno, NV. I haven't heard from Uncle Tino since, and I'm not sure weather he made it to dad's retirement party last Summer, 2007 after all these years either.
Uncle Gus has five children and married to a Hawaiian Lady named Stacy; to my knowledge they are still in the same house across from the Palolo Valley Mart. The same Palolo Valley mart bus stop where Mino, myself, Luana, Berna and Sisi used to catch The Bus early in the mornings, to make it on time attending St. Anthony's (1st through 8th grade) Catholic School. We lived in Palolo Valley not knowing much about Uncle Gus. I was told a long time ago that Uncle Gus was adopted by Uncle Uso, and was raised alongside cousins or our extended family. My Dad and cousins Vicky, Joey, Herman, Tony and Jenny knows what the situation was like in regards to Uncle Gus.
Well it should be obvious to others now where my name Mickey came from. You know my dad is still very close, adores and respects his younger brother Mickey very much. Mickey has Shiela his wife, his daughter Tenile, and son Travis who are both grown, married and with children of their own as well. Uncle Mickey had adopted Big Johnny as an adolescent, and made Big Johnny into the best athlete he could ever possibly be at Farrington High School so that he could earn a college football scholarship, after setting all kinds of offensive football records for Farrington High School, he played running back and wore #25. However, Uncle Mickey was the very first in our Scanlan family before Big Johnny that made it on both the All State and All Star First Teams for Hawaii State Prep Football Associated Press. Uncle Mickey played at the Nose Guard Position, and wore #75. With little doubt, he earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award as well. There are quite a number of Farrington Governors graduates overall in our family, but only a select few like Uncle Mickey, Big Johnny and Drew Scanlan made a very strong impact as athletes, to be highly recognized on the football field by the Hawaii Media Press, and Prep Athletic Scholastic Associations
I don't know why Uncle Junior had not made the First Team just like Uncle Mickey, Big Johnny and Drew. My Dad probably knows why Uncle Junior probably didn't play high school football, because it may have been the same reason that dad couldn't play, which was due to being forced to financially support themselves after migrating here in Hawaii, as Papa Sililo worked as a plumber in American Samoa to support the remainder of their siblings. So they had to fend for themselves as adolescences while away from home, American Samoa. I believe that by the time Uncle Mickey migrated to Hawaii, being the youngest amongst all of his siblings, the quality of life for them may have improved feasibly enough for him (#75) and Uncle Gus (#99) to play sports for Farrington Governors.
Auntie Agnes is Big Johnny's real mother though and he has three brothers and a sister. They all have two separate fathers. Lawrence and Marianne is from a Caucasian father. Than there is Lotten, Junior (Leo) and Big Johnny is from the same father who's Filipino with the last name of Vallejo. To my knowledge Big Johnny is the only one amongst his brothers that kept his last name as Vallejo, but is still considered one the most important figure's in our large Scanlan family. It’s because of his intangible talents he uses after succeeding in sports; such as his ability to lead by example, his seriousness in being and giving discipline, sharing wisdom and motivating others to do well after a hard life as an adult, he's very much a favorite and popular member with everyone in our Scanlan family.
Uncle Mike offspring as result are only boys from two women, the first is Aunt Nese that raised Mike in San Francisco, while Steve, Drew and Sandal was raised by Uncle Mike. The his second wife of Uncle Mike was Aunt Jan, who is deceased today and had two sons, Mikey and Alii. Now Uncle Mike resides in Texas today with his third wife. He has left behind his his six sons and all of his grandchildren. Drew was another special athlete in our Scanlan family that along with Uncle Mickey and Big Johnny, earned a college football scholarship and also made the All State and All Star First Team for the Hawaii State's Prep Athletic Scholastic Football Association. Just like Big Johnny, Drew played running back, and wore #25 for the Farrington Governors and possibly broke some offensive records that were in the books for quite some time. Athletes and musicians runs deep and wide on my dad’s side of the family. Steve, Drew, Big Johnny and all of my Dad's brother's knew how to play instruments and are gifted singers. There was even at one time a Scanlan band, that roamed and played at graduation party's, weddings, birthday parties or family reunions as well.
My Dad has myself and Patrick as the Scanlan offspring in our family. Patrick is 10 years younger than myself, and he has Maiah as his first child. I am divorced without children, that which will change in God's time, and I just dream of having children of my own some day, while playing next to Maiah or any of my four sisters children as well. Luana, Berna, Sisi and Gina are all married with children of their own, and with last names other than Scanlan, nevertheless they are all considered Scanlan's forever to be.
Both Patrick and I played football, but I can't defend my younger brother that is 10 years younger than I am all that much. Once I left home after enlisting for the US Navy at 17 years of age, it meant he was 7 years old without an older positive role model brother for him to look up to. One could consider Luana and Berna to be his older role models until our cousin Sharma that is my age, arrived to live with my parents for a period of time. Than our brother in laws Mac, Tia and Ben had also stepped in as older positive role models for Patrick; and he eventually turned out just fine and now back in the work force with his first child, Maiah. to love and support. But I know that we both played High School Football, with me having played three seasons prior to High School. Patrick played in the offensive or defensive lineman position for Cambell High School in the middle nineties and did well, I'm sure of it. Meanwhile, while back in the middle eighties I was stuck with surgically inserted new tubes in both my ears, and then a broken leg sustained during football practice that left me on the injured reserved list for my Freshman and Sophmore Years at St. Louis High School a Private School. My transfer to Mckinley High School had put me at back up positions and a starter on special teams for my Junior year, than finally as a starter for my Senior season it put me on the Honorable Mention List for the Hawaii Preps Scholastic Athletic Association All Star Team, who credited my play at special teams, fullback and middle linebacker positions for Mckinley High School, I wore #44.
Our Scanlan family continues multiply with the growth of our next generation of athletes and muscians led on by the offspring of Patrick, Big Johnny, Junior (Leo), Lotten, Lawrence, Drew, Steve, Sam, Alii, Uncle Mickey's son Travis, Uncle Gus' sons, Uncle Tino's son, Uncle Junior's son Mark, Aunt Eileen's sons James, Adam, Allen along with myself as well in God's time.
Again this post recognizes and honor our past Scanlan relatives such as Grandma Nese and Papa Sililo, and their deceased sons and daughter children Pedro, Lui, Niva, (Junior?) and now Rosalene, Niva's daughter. I elaborated on who's who in our Scanlan to have it made clear that the many of us that still remain have all loved them so dearly, and will also miss them so much. They've all gone to be with our Lord and Savior in a dwelling place that is reserved for them in Heaven. We send condolences especially to Rosalene's sister Dorothy, Aunt Eileen and her sons James, Adam and Allen that seemingly were closest to Rosalene just before she past on.
Most Sincere,
Mickey Tovio Scanlan
