The Short Story of Bobby Tishkevich

Before reading my short story, if you grew up in NYC, please click on one, or both, of the fabulous two musical video inks below for a fun filled reminder of what it’s like to grow up and live in NY. Both videos definitely capture the heart and soul of the city, bringing chills to my body.

I’m In A NY State of Mind        /       New York NY

This site incorporates a brief written summary of various times in my life, the music I listened to, and some of the photos which survived over several decades. Hopefully, the combination of photos and written words will bring back memories for those who shared various times in my life, while creating a certain amount of nostalgia for myself. I broke down the short history of my life into various segments, organized chronologically. I of course started with my early years as a little boy and worked my way up to where I am today. 

I grew up on the streets of Brooklyn, NY. Virtually all New Yorkers understand what kind of experience that is and how you learn at a young age that you can’t allow anyone to push you around. The only viable option is fighting back and I had to do such far too many times. Growing up in the city also means the only environment you know is one in which trees are a rarity and there’s little or no grass. It’s an asphalt, concrete jungle.

We were raised in a tough, blue collar neighborhood, but it was tons of fun. After school, my brother and I lived in the schoolyard at PS 92 playing basketball, football, softball, and stick ball with a diverse cast of characters. I can still remember my father coming home from work and ordering his boys to leave the schoolyard and come home for dinner. I’ll talk more about this aspect of my life on my Early Years page.

Life In the Big Apple

Living in the Big Apple is extremely interesting and never boring. There are of course Broadway shows, fabulous museums (my favorite is the Natural Museum of History), Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, the incredible Hayden Planetarium, Central Park, Prospect Park, and the Staten Island Ferry. Regularly riding in the NYC subway system is an experience one can barely describe, you have to see and feel it yourself.

When I was in my twenties, I spent many spring, summer, and autumn weekends hanging out at the fabulous discos in Manhattan. The clothes were truly bizarre during that era, but it was a very exciting and unique period of time. The beat and rhythm of Disco music was just what a young guy in his early twenties thrived on. I wish I could find Evelyn Valles, who was my dance partner extraordinaire. Ms. Valles was a fantastic partner who always made me look good on the dance floor. I don’t think it’s possible to have more fun than I had hanging out at the NY Discos with Evelyn.

We Owe It All To Our Parents

My brother and I were very fortunate because we had two loving, hard working blue collar parents. They were determined to see their boys have the kind of advantages which were unimaginable when they grew up during the great Depression.

I graduated from LIU, got my first apartment in the Park Slope neighborhood of downtown Brooklyn on Park Place, and started my professional life as an elementary school teacher. I taught 5th and 6th graders for seven years in Ocean Hill – Brownsville, one of the toughest neighborhoods in the entire city. That was an extremely enlightening experience. For the most part I loved my kids, who taught me as much about life as I hopefully taught them. I would like to believe I had an impact on one or more of their young lives.

I attended Brooklyn College Graduate School for a Masters Degree in Criminology and Sociology. However, after completing 27 graduate school credits, a Masters Thesis was required. Unfortunately, while I was preparing to write my thesis, I moved out of NY and started a brand new life in Maryland. As a result of that move, I never completed my thesis.

Page Summary

• There’s a photo of me taken at the Seminole Casino. No, I didn’t win any money that day.
• I have to admit those little outfits and cool hats in the family photo taken in Brooklyn many years ago puts a smile on my face. How in the world this photo was preserved after more than 60 years have elapsed is beyond my comprehension. 
• Muffin was definitely my best friend and the greatest dog ever. I’m sad to say Muffin is no longer with us. I miss him so much and will always love the big fella.
• Ms. Poe was the grand cat which my daughter left with me when she decided to move to the Midwest.  She was a very special animal and I also miss her very much.