Tuesday, March 2, 2021
I met Henry at the Centre Hills golf club nearly 40 years ago. After a few rounds of golf which followed , he asked me to work for him at the now dissolved Unico Construction Company. My job wast to coordinate design and construction of many projects which included about a dozen student housing projects in downtown State College and in Williamsport near the Pennsylvania School of Technology; many Unimart stores in Pennsylvania and a few in New York; the Unico office building; the Addison Court elderly apartment buildings; Lube-Marts in State College and western and eastern Pennsylvania; 3 Hardies fast-food restaurant; and his first hotel.
After 13 years of working together Henry and I remained friends and I occasionally served as a consultant on his planned projects.
I will always remember our golf matches that Henry more than often would win due to his unique betting strategy of increasing the bet on the last hole if he was losing the match (via multiple “presses” on the bet). That usually put me under considerable pressure causing me to hit my drive in the creek, on the 10 tee, or out of bounds. Needless to say, Henry usually won.
I remember the many gin card games with Henry and other friends. He was very good at remembering the cards played which allowed him to win most of the time.
We went through some tough times meeting abbreviated construction schedules due to delays in permitting or financing. However, a deadline was never missed. I also remember many good times at dinner parties at his and Seda’s home or Susan’s and my home. My grandsons recall some of Henry’s magic tricks which still remain a secret to implement.
For years our Friday happy hour group met, first starting at the Sheridan Muck Duck and later at the Autoport. Henry always wanted to pick up the check. And he mostly did by getting to the waitress first.
Henry was generous in so many ways. He was a shrewd business man who taught me a few things. He will be missed. Assuming we both eventually end up in the same place, I look forward to playing a few games of gin. Henry, if you haven’t done so already please find a few decks of cards so we can get a game going with some of our other friends who hopefully made it to that place. By the way, it’s my turn to win.
Your friend always...Dan Abriuzzo
