of other boxers. George married a wonderful woman Francis, and they have great children. George started boxing in the forties, as an amateur, and later turned pro. Under the management of Frankie Travis, George went on to become the New England featherweight and lightweight champion. George fought and beat some of the top contender in both the feather and lightweight division around the country.
Sandy Sadler, Patty DeMarco, Charley Riley, Joe Brown, to mention a few. Joe Brown was KO by Araujo, but later on he became lightweight champion. This might be something boxing fans don't know about Araujo, is, to get fights with top notch fighters, and a shot at the lightweight title, George had to take on another manager from NJ. George got a title shot with champion Jimmy Carter. A few days before the fight, Araujo developed a bad infection in his big toe, and the infection spread to his angle. He had a problem putting his boxing shoe on. Frankie Travis went to the NY boxing commission, and said they had to postpone the fight, because Araujo could not put weight on his foot. Frankie returned with the news, that George had to fight that Friday night, Frankie's face was as white as white as a ghost. Araujo fought, and won every round on all three judges score cards up to the thirteen round. Araujo was knocked down in the thirteenth, and the referee stopped the fight as soon George got up long before the ten count. Makes you wonder. George had a love for painting. I have one of his paintings hanging in my home. It hangs there to remind me how lucky I am to have been a friend of, George Araujo."

Bobby LaNinfa, Modesto Ca. blaninfa@prodigy.net 

"You know, I was thinking about growing up in RI in the 50' and 60's and how unique it was for us. I can't imagine anywhere else that had the whole state as there "backyard". Someone mentions Narragansett and I know exactly what they are talking and remembering about. Or, 7 mile road or Rocky Point or Goddard Park or Clam Cakes and chowder. We had it good. We had the time of our lives. It's too bad that's gone but it's great you rekindled that RI spark where we (who are transplanted) can go home again. You and all your hard work are appreciated."

Bobby Houle bhoule@tampabay.rr.com 

"Your web site brought back some fond memories of growing up in RI....hot wieners, clam cakes, Del's, and coffee milk.

I grew up in East Providence and went to HS at La Salle Academy. I left RI for college in Maine in 1969. I have not lived in RI since but still visit regularly to see my family and a few good friends (from Federal Hill) who attended La Salle with me.

The great thing about visiting East Providence with my two children over the years (they are 19 and 17) is that they both have developed a taste for the same RI delicacies I enjoyed growing up. When we drive to RI our first stop after going over the Washington Bridge is the small New York System restaurant on Taunton Avenue near Sacred Heart Church to get a couple of hot weiners (we call them gaggers) with coffee milk. After visiting with my mom for a few hours, we go over to Horton's near Bovi's Tavern and get some clam cakes. Before the evening is over, we stop by the Del's just past Our Lady of Lorretta Church to get a couple of medium size lemonades. We repeat this sequence every time we visit and sometimes multiple times during each visit. On one hot and humid summer visit we hit
Del's 5x in one day!

I have tried to make gaggers for my kids several times but I can seem to find the right weiners and just can't get the sauce to taste the same as the NY System. I'll try some of your recipes on your web site to see if I can capture that unique RI gagger taste.

I also have a lot of fond memories of HS days hanging out on Federal Hill with my friends (Ves, Larry, Zang, Armond, Tom,.). Unfortunately, I haven't told my kids many of these stories!"

Joe Mattos (Waterville, Maine) jmattos@fc.wtvl.k12.me.us