George Aviles

George (Cherokee) was always known for his speed on and off the stickball field. Back on September 16, 1926, Grandma Helen gave birth to triplets (3 boys) and as Unc tells it, he pushed his brothers out of the way and sprinted out first. Unfortunately, his siblings never made it. Can you imagine a world with 3 Cherokees?

Grandma Helen and Grandpa Frank had 6 children in total. First it was Nellie. A beautiful blonde with green eyes that died when she was 2 years old from pneumonia. Then Unc was born and survived his siblings. After that Lucy was born with her big green eyes and great laugh. Then there was his youngest sister, Gordie, who would collect bottles when she was a kid and give him the money so he could buy cigarettes and gamble. All 3 surviving children were very close and had a love for family.

During his teenage years our Grandpa Frank bought the candy store downstairs from the apartment complex where they lived on Wales Avenue. It could have been quite profitable but for 2 reasons it wasn't. Unc did not want to be tied down to work regularly (it would interfere with his stickball) and he was very generous with his friends. Free cigarettes, candy, etc. for all.

Unc was the first to move away when he joined the army in 1945. He was shipped to Germany on a boat and that didn't go well. He was seasick the whole time. He was stationed in Germany to clean up the mess after the war. Not long after he got there he was sorry for joining. He was homesick and wrote to his mother religiously. He missed his family and couldn't wait to come home. But his family was not the only thing he missed. Stickball had become his way of life. He was part of the Dukes and later on the Jackson Knights and would pick up games with other teams as he was very good at it and the teams would pay him to play. He always wore a rag around his head that made him look Indian - giving him the name "Cherokee". On his wedding day he was on the way to be married to our Titi Norma when he saw a stickball game being played near the chapel. Someone approached him and asked if he could fill in as they were short a player. He told them he was on his way to get married and couldn't. He also didn't have any sneakers. By the time the ceremony finished he had decided (with my Titi Norma's blessing) to join the game. Someone gave him their shoes and he played the game, made some money and headed to the reception. He was so good that he got offered a tryout with the New York Giants (baseball team) but he tried on the uniform and he found it itchy so he gave up on that dream. Years later he regretted that move.

While he was in the army, he was asked if he knew how to play an instrument. He said he could keep a beat. He faked it and he became the drummer for the Officer's Club Band. It beat hard work. That was the beginning of his love for music. While Unc loved Latin music, he really loved the crooners as well like Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, etc. He had no musical training. He learned how to read and write music on his own. In the 50's he was asked to join a Latin band in Miami. Getting out of the Bronx to go to Miami was a good option as the neighborhood was getting bad and he wanted out. So he was down here for about 6 months while our Titi Norma stayed behind. He fell in love with Miami and when his gig was up he went to pack up with Titi and move to Florida. He had no family and a few friends but he managed to get a job in a band and bought a brand new house in Carol City.

In 1958 Mom wanted Titi Norma and Uncle George to be the Godparents of my brother. So we flew down to Miami for the baptism. First neither my aunt or uncle were very religious but I have to give it to them, they memorized the prayers they needed to know and mission accomplished. Also my Mom fell in love with Miami and was determined to move down. So we went back home, packed and relocated to Miami. It was a hard move as Mom had to leave her sister behind in New York but she knew this was a better life for all of us and Titi promised to move when Uncle Charlie retired. Unc opened his house to us and we lived there 6 months until we could afford to rent our own home. In the meantime, Unc was very busy with his music and organizing stickball games as many of his friends were moving down. He organized all the games and indoctrinated anyone that could hold a bat.

Latin music was very popular in Miami Beach. Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez would come down regularly to do shows and after some time the Fontainebleau wanted to have their own Latin venue. Unc was offered a gig to work in the Fontainebleau's Boom Boom Room. It was a huge success. He named the band "Chero & his Del Prado Orchestra". In the meantime, he taught himself to play the flute, bongos, and xylophone. Before long they had Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack frequenting the Boom Boom Room. It was the place to be. During his musician years he played in the bands for singers such as: Frankie Avalon, Harry Belafonte, Betty Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Rydell, Johnny Rodriguez,
Tito Rodriguez, etc. It's there they he met Bernice Novack. She actually hired him and was his boss. Their relationship flourished and they were life partners for over 30 years. They had a very special relationship until her death.

At some point during the Boom Boom years he took up golf. Loved the sport and because of his athleticism it came easy to him and he was very good. Actually he was the first Members Club Champion at Miami Lakes Country Club where he was a member since its inception. Again, golf was self-taught . He even taught Freddie how to play golf and the love of the sport, one of Freddie's greatest memories of Unc was when they went to the Masters Golf Tournament. It was such a great experience. Unc played golf all over the country. We will always remember when he joined us on vacation in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He played golf with Howard, Freddie and Brian. Good memories. Until his stroke in 2020, he went to the golf course every day to play or hit balls. When he got tired, you could find him sitting under a tree drinking beer at 93 years old. He had friends all over the Clubhouse.

In 1951 with 6 Spaldings and 2 bats he left New York City for Miami. From 1951 – 1955 he held stickball practice at where Joe's Stone Crabs is presently located. Then in 1958 they moved to Carol City. After various moves, they finally found a field in North Miami where they are still playing. He also helped organize many of the tournaments in Miami, New York, and Puerto Rico. He was inducted into the Stickball Hall of Fame along with his best friend, Little Cherokee Ruiz, in Manhattan, New York. Our whole family made the trip and watched proudly as they played a game in the street next to the Hall of Fame where he got inducted. Stickball was his life. He traveled to all of the stickball games and participated in them until he was in his 80's. He kept in touch with many of the players old and new and helped organize the event and dances afterwards. In 2018 he wrote a timeline of the History of Florida Stickball and Florida Old Timers. He spent a lot of time doing the research and giving accolades to those that participated in furthering the sport.

Unc always loved to cook. He loved the Graham Kerr TV show - the Galloping Gourmet. He and Freddie would watch it together. Later in life he became quite a good cook thanks to the time he spent watching his Mom and sister's cook. He
also got pointers from the chefs at Joe's Restaurant. It was his favorite place to frequent and enjoyed a great friendship with Joe and Danny. After Mom passed he felt he had to make pasteles for the holidays. He wanted no help and complained each time that it was too much work and it would be the last year he would make them. He made them for years and they were delicious.

It seemed whatever Unc set his mind out to do, he could accomplish it. He was gifted with his mind and hands. He was a perfectionist and did everything he could to master whatever he set his mind to. He refinished all of the cabinets in Mom's house in Hialeah. Even later in life he became pretty tech savvy, always wanting to learn something new. Challenging himself everyday by doing his crossword puzzles and surfing the internet. It's what kept his mind sharp till his last day.

Unc loved to gamble on anything - sports, horses, trotters, dogs. He would always say I'm going to "Pompano" for the trotters, "woof woof" for the dog track and the "track" for the horses. He loved his Miami Dolphins and going to their games and always said they were going to the Superbowl even though he knew deep down inside they weren't. He also loved his NY Giants. That was his second favorite team.

Unc was very independent, fiercely competitive and a self-proclaimed sore loser, maybe that was part of being a perfectionist. He would listen to your opinion but there was always George's way. He would always say that he was the captain of his own ship. As many of you know he loved to argue. But in the end, whether it was a friend or family member, he always respected and loved you.

Unc was very social, had many friends and loved spending time reminiscing, listening to music and telling jokes over drinks. He loved his alcohol. Couldn't leave the house without his "Little Red Cup" with gin and tonic. Little Cherokee was a special friend calling him every day, especially the last three (3) years. Thank you Little Cherokee for being such a good friend all these years. Your friendship was important to him and us.

To us (Freddie & Terry) he was Unc. He never had kids and always told people we were like his kids. He was always very generous and loved his family a great deal. At a very young age Freddie remembers Unc taking him to the first Miami Dolphins Football game at the Orange Bowl, Super Bowl II, and Super Bowl IV. We knew he couldn't afford it but he didn't want us to miss out on anything. But more than that he was generous with his time. He rarely missed a family outing, birthday, holiday or family event.

In the last years of his life he was fortunate to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Gordie & Al, and Titi Lucy & Uncle Charlie living down the street. Many times I would find them altogether in the backyard reminiscing about the good old days. I know Grandma was looking down and loving it. They were all so close and just sitting together was all they needed. He was also blessed with wonderful brothers-in-law. They all looked out for each other like true brothers. His extended family was also important to him. When Luisa and family moved down, he was so happy to be able to spend time with his first cousin again. She grew up with all 3 in the Bronx and she adored him. When she passed, he would drive up to Boca to watch football with Charlie and spend the day. They also had a special bond. Unfortunately, another first cousin, Cookie, passed after my Mom passed. We were all looking forward to him moving down and enjoyed the visits we had prior to his passing. He had one first cousin, Cuca, left who lived in Puerto Rico. Unc finally got to visit her and spend time with her beautiful family. They were the same age and loved crossword puzzles and Sudoku. Both were very sharp into their 90's. He often talked of that visit. One of his best trips and he was planning on going back.

We will miss Unc deeply but the last three years were tough for such an active and independent person. It's comforting to know that he is with his mother, father and sisters (which he adored) Lucy and Gordie and family looking down upon us, still watching his friends and family and wishing us much love and unity in our lives.

GOD BLESS YOU UNC – WE LOVE YOU!