There is only one Bimby and that nickname was all the identification needed when you talked about him. Nobody ever had to ask, "Bimby who?"

Kids on our street – and there were plenty of them – idolized Bimby, who was the Mr. Rogers of our neighborhood. He was an accomplished athlete, enjoyed games of all sorts, and was never too busy to engage younger kids in conversation, treating them as though they were members of his family. We all enjoyed playing on Bimby's side in any game, not only because it improved our chance of winning, but because he was a teacher as well as a teammate.

Bimby on the Smolinski front lawn, sometime during the 1950s. What's sad about this photo is its reminder of the beautiful elm trees that shaded Russet Lane and much of Solvay until they were wiped out by disease a few years later.