Last updated February 17, 2020
During his summer vacations, Bill, Bob “Squeaky” Myers, Bob “Bugsy” Texter, Charlie “Butchy” Saar , and other boys would often walk to Harry Babbitt’s ice cream store. The store not only sold ice cream and sodas, but was a comic book haven. Babbitt’s had all the latest comic book, and was their comic book library. It was the custom that whoever had money would pay for the ice cream.
During the summer between his senior year in high school and his freshman year in college Bill had a job . He worked in the shipping department of Caslon Press, a printing company. Thus, at Harry Babbitt’s , because he could afford it and was the only one with money, Bill often footed the bill.
Ruth Puccinelli and Judi Hinderliter were also customers of the ice cream shop. One evening when the boys were in the shop, eating ice cream and perusing the literature, Judi and Ruth came into the shop. They talked to the boys for a short time, went to the counter and ordered ice cream, then told Harry that Bill was paying. Just as they were leaving, Bill learned of the ruse and stopped the girls. After some discussion, he agreed to pay, and the girls stayed around until it was getting dark.
Ruth would have to walk up East Street from the store to get home, the same direction as the boys. Judi lived in the opposite direction. Because the pole lights were coming on, the girls wanted an escort home. The boys walked Ruth home, and Bill was chosen to walk with Judi. After all, he was going to be a priest. This was the start of friendship based on walking. Bill and Judi were not boyfriend and girlfriend, just friends.
This walking friendship continued after Bill returned from the seminary. For a long time the were just walking buddies who liked one another and walked all over the North Side. Who knew it would turn into love?