Being Paul's Kid Brother

- David Ringwood (June 2025)

I spent last Father’s Day with Paul James Ringwood in Auburn.  My ”Father’s Day Journey” took me to places I haven’t visited in a long time and provided me with a quiet opportunity to think about the parts of Auburn that were special to Dad and the many lessons I learned from him.  I enjoyed that journey very much.

Earlier this year, Bob submitted a beautiful collection of memories of growing up alongside Peter.  Bob grew up as a part of an entity known as PetenBob.  Bob’s piece got me thinking about growing up alongside Paul as part of an entity known as PaulnDave.  The PetenBob dynamic was, in many respects, the same as the PaulnDave dynamic - separated by 2 grades, paper route, walking to Blessed Trinity, Day Camp, CYO basketball, Monday Golf at SCC,the older brother was a Little League pitcher.   According to Bob, Peter pitched like Nolan Ryan.  Paul, on the other hand, pitched more like Greg Maddox.  There were plenty of fights and arguments but if anyone (not named Ringwood) criticized my big brother, they were going to have to deal with me.

Inspired by Bob, for Father’s Day this year, I’ve decided to merge my “Father’s Day Journey” with Bob’s “Cannon”.  I will again be spending some time with Paul James Ringwood (Jr.), going to places that I haven’t visited in a long time and remembering (with a smile on my face) being a part of PaulnDave,

As Mom wrote in The Sun Still Rises, “David and Paul were buddies.  They were another salt and pepper pair.  They always had a bedroom together.  They played ball together, they were always on the same team.  Team sports was a big part of their growing up years.”  Mom does not indicate which of us was “salt” and which of us was “pepper”.  I’ll leave that up to you.  As we got older and as the older siblings moved away, we got our own bedrooms.  As we moved up leagues in baseball, we played on different teams.  I suspect it is typical for siblings to grow apart as they get older - different friends, different interests, etc.  Growing up and going in different directions can be hard.  However, one of the many wonderful things about being #8 in a family of 10 is rediscovering the other 9.  My older siblings are no longer older, I simply caught up with them.  My younger siblings are no longer younger, they simply caught up with me.  I’ll always be Paul’s kid brother and I’ll always be one half of PaulnDave.  I hope you enjoy my journey.

Stop #1            124 Owasco Street

I have no recollection of Steel Street.  I was born there but grew up on Owasco Street.  Over the years, I shared the paneled bedroom with Tom, Jack & Paul.  I shared the bedroom at the end of the upstairs hallway with Tom.  For a short time before Bernie lived with us, Tom & I shared a bedroom in the playroom.  Why we were there I cannot recall.  When we were in middle school and starting high school, Paul and I shared the paneled bedroom.  The paneled bedroom is the one in the picture with the air conditioner (that would have been appreciated back in the day).  A closet connected that bedroom with Mom & Dad’s bedroom.  That was where Paul and I hung our “good clothes” and stored our stuff.  There were 3 steps from our bedroom into the connecting closet and Mom & Dad’s room.  Typically when going from Mom & Dad’s room into our bedroom, the steps were unnecessary - we simply jumped into our room.  Doing so usually resulted in our being told to “knock it off” because our bedroom was directly above the dining room and jumping from the closet to our bedroom rattled the light fixture in the dining room.  We had a large table that served as our desk.  An AM clock/radio was our entertainment/distraction while we were doing our homework.

The “roommate dynamic” was pretty simple - Paul was in charge.  If Paul wanted the radio on, it was on.  If Paul had a pack of gum or some candy and I asked for a piece, his response was some version of, “it will cost you a (nickel, dime, quarter)”.  If the overhead light was on when we were going to bed, the expectation was that I would turn it off before getting into bed.  Paul was also in charge when it came to chores.  During the winter, he and I were expected to shovel the front porch, the path leading to the sidewalk and then the sidewalk in both directions.  Because he is the older brother, Paul decided that I would shovel the porch, the path leading to the sidewalk and the sidewalk turning left toward Anna Street .  Paul shoveled the rest of the sidewalk heading toward Mrs. Clark’s house.  Paul determined that we would shovel the entrance to the driveway together.  I know I complained to Paul that I was doing more than he was and I know that he listened.  However, I was Paul’s kid brother, he was the boss and that was the end of the story.  I did my shoveling and paid for a stick of gum.

Eventually the older siblings moved out of the big red house on Owasco Street and this meant that Paul & I no longer had to share a bedroom.  I moved to Tom’s room at the end of the hallway and Paul moved into Nancy’s/Jack’s room across from the paneled room.  When Paul and I were in high school, our relationship began to change.  During the school day, I rarely saw Paul.  At the beginning of the school year, teachers and other students would pose the same question, “Are you Paul’s brother?”   Began to see Paul differently, he was pretty cool…swimmer, Model United Nations, clothes horse.  When I wanted to borrow any of his clothes he treated it like a rental - and I paid.

Stop #2            Anna Street

Anna Street was Paul’s hang out more than mine.  He and his pals (John and Patty Woods, Peggy Ganey, Laura Foster) called the shots.  I spent more time with Mike Hogan, Mike Young, Marty Kinary, Mike Duncan and Chip Mizro.  I was more apt to be at Bradford Street playground or 263 E. Genesee Street than bombing around Anna Street.  Anna Street was Paul’s “turf.”  If he needed another body for kickball or prison break, he’d let me tag along.  During the summer if Mom was getting ready for dinner, she’d ask, “Where’s Paul?”  Typically, the answer was “He’s over on Anna Street.”  Mom would then ask me to ride my bike to Anna Street and ask him to come home for dinner.  Aren’t neighborhoods great?

Stop #3            Blessed Trinity/The White House/AHS

I am a year and a half younger than Paul.  He was two grades ahead of me.  This means that we experienced Blessed Trinity and Auburn High School together.  We were schoolmates at Blessed Trinity for 1 year and Auburn High School for 2 years.  As the younger brother, it was comforting to know that if I had a school related question, I could go to Paul for an answer/explanation/opinion.  After all, he’d most likely experienced the same thing.  When Holy Family was open, Mr. Woods drove us to school each morning - 6 people in a VW Beetle.  Imagine that!!  I dreaded the Monday pick-up during football season.  If the Packers lost on Sunday (in the 1970’s, the Packers lost WAY MORE often than they won) Mr. Woods would give me the business - “David, I didn’t see the scores, how did the Packers do yesterday?” Ugh.

After the schools consolidated, Paul and I walked to Blessed Trinity together.  I had to always be ready for Paul to hip check me into bushes along the way.  I don’t know why we didn’t walk or ride with Patty and Betsy Woods.  One of the best things was our visit to the White House (a corner store on Genesee Street) before or after school.  Occasionally, we’d stop in before AND after school.  I can only imagine what our teachers thought of the items we bought to supplement the lunch Mom had prepared for us.

Speaking of lunches, the 2 years that Paul and I were in high school together, I made Paul’s lunch.  I know that Mom had to get Pete & Bob ready for school and I know that school started pretty early at AHS.  I suspect that Paul and I told Mom that we could make our own lunches and that she didn’t have to.  In fairness to Paul, he didn’t force me to make his lunch each day.  I figured as long as I was making one lunch, two wouldn’t be a problem.  As the younger brother, as the back half of “PaulnDave” there was a part of me that felt it was my job to make sure Paul had a yummy lunch (he was a big fan of pepperoni & cheese sandwiches).

When Paul was a Senior, he got to drive the car to school from time to time.  No more hitchhiking!!  Paul loved driving the white LeSabre to school.  I’m not sure he liked transporting his kid brother.  On several occasions, Paul made me get out of the car before he pulled into the student parking lot at AHS.  So much for those yummy lunches!!

Stop #4            Stewart Field

Some of my fondest childhood memories involve playing Pony League and Little League baseball with Paul.  I loved being on Paul’s team.  Paul seemed to understand the game differently than I did.  He didn’t need to think.  He reacted quickly and, more often than not, made the right decision.  We were teammates for Chamber of Commerce and Columbian Rope.  I’ll never forget my first play in the first game as the 2nd baseman for Chamber of Commerce.  There was a runner on 2nd base and the batter hit a line drive RIGHT AT ME.  Miraculously, I caught the line drive!  However, instead of throwing the ball to 2nd base for a double play, I hesitated.  A moment later, I did what a kid brother is supposed to do - I threw the ball to my big brother playing 1st base.  He threw the ball to 2nd base but the runner had gotten back to the bag.  I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest.  Paul looked at me and smiled.

Eventually I got an opportunity to play baseball’s best position - catcher.  I always loved catching because I was involved in every play, the equipment was cool and my job was to make sure that everyone was positioned correctly.  The catcher is also responsible for settling the pitcher down when/if he started to get wild.  I loved being Paul’s catcher.  Paul did not have Peter’s cannon.  He did, however, have a natural curveball and when he was on, he was untouchable.  However, there were times when he was having trouble throwing strikes and it was my job as catcher to call timeout, walk to the mound and settle Paul down.  Paul usually appreciated the break but there were times when I wouldn’t get halfway to the mound before hearing Paul’s voice - “I know what to do, get back behind the plate.” More often than not, Paul was right.

As I’ve mentioned, Paul had a feel for baseball that I never did.  When he wasn’t pitching, Paul played 1st base.  One evening on the way to Stewart Field for a game (riding our bikes) Paul told me to look for a signal from him whenever an opponent walked.  He wanted me to throw the ball to him instead of the pitcher after ball 4 was called in case the runner stepped off the base.  Sure enough, ball 4, signal, throw to first, runner steps off the base, tag, out.  Classic Paul!

Sadly Paul and I did not get to play Babe Ruth together.  Paul played for Firefighters (like Tom) and I played for Byrne’s Sporting Goods (like Mike).  Even though we played on different teams, our games were usually scheduled for the same time and played on different fields (Coke Field, Varsity Field & JV Field).  These were ballfields adjacent to Holland Stadium.  No fences but beautiful fields - I always felt like I’d made the big leagues when playing on those fields.  Typically we would ride our bikes to our games together and meet afterward to get dinner at Ponderosa.  Paul’s pal and teammate Jamie Oropollo usually  joined us.  I only remember playing against Paul (that seems strange to say) once and it was a memorable game.  We both had talked trash in the days leading up to the game.  We were in the kitchen getting ready to leave and Paul announced to Mom, “If there’s a play at home and Dave is blocking the plate, I’m going to run through him.”  Mom’s response was something along the lines of, “be nice to your brother.”  I knew he wasn’t joking.  In fact, early in the game there was a play at the plate and I did get mowed over…by Jamie Oropollo. 

I think it was a walk off homer.

I know he had 2 strikes.

I know I called for a pitch low and away.

I know our pitcher executed the pitch perfectly.

I don’t know how he hit that pitch.

The ball just kept going and going - it was a thing of beauty.

There was almost a play at the plate.

The throw home was on the 3rd base side of the plate.

I didn't block the plate.

Paul slid home and Firefighters defeated Byrne’s.

We went to Poderosa afterward for dinner and Jamie Oropollo joined us.

I eventually fell out of love with baseball because I was allowed to catch less and less (the coach’s son wanted to play that position).  However, I’ll never forget the night I was on the losing side of an exciting game won by the best ballplayer I ever played with or against.

Stop #5            Owasco Country Club

In 1994 Paul invited me to be his partner for the Member-Guest Tournament at Owasco Country Club.  This was the first of three opportunities I had to have Paul as a partner.  In addition to the Owasco MG, we played together at Drumlins Country Club and again at Bellevue Country Club.  If memory serves, we teamed up quite well all three times.   I have 2 wonderful memories of the Owasco CC partnership.  At the conclusion of the tournament, as the points were being totaled, it became clear that Paul and I were going to win our flight.  Paul was so excited he wrapped me in a bear hug and told me, “We did it!  This is so great!”  I smile just thinking about that moment because for as much as Paul enjoys winning, he enjoys winning even more if he’s doing it with a member of his family.

The other memory I have of that weekend took place after the first round of play.  I drove home instead of going to the Calcutta.  I was tired and I knew that Paul would be happy to take care of our bets.  The next morning when I arrived to play, as I was putting on my golf shoes in the parking lot, a guy approached me and said, “You’re Paul Ringwood’s brother aren’t you?”  At that moment I was thinking to myself, oh no, what did I do?  I answered that I was Paul’s brother and the guy reached out to shake my hand and said, “Please thank Paul for saving the Calcutta.”  Whew!  Apparently, Paul didn’t like the way the Calcutta was unfolding the night before so he decided to take over.  Throughout the day, multiple players thanked Paul for taking charge.

Conclusion - Lessons learned

You learn a lot about someone when you walk to school together, play ball together and share a bedroom.  Being Paul’s kid brother has been a life-long learning experience.  Of course we fought and argued and disagreed - that’s what brothers do.  Along the way, I’ve learned so much from Paul as I have from all of my siblings.  Two lessons stand out from all the others.

Lesson #1 - Just Do It!  (Please don’t tell Phil Knight.)

Believe it or not, I’ve only attended the Great Race once.  Paul, on the other hand, has spent hours and hours planning, organizing the event in order to make sure it remains an Auburn tradition for years to come.  He didn’t complain he did something.  He didn’t wait for someone else - he did it himself.

The iconic Genesee Beer sign…for most of my life it either didn’t work or wasn’t used.  Several years ago Paul informed me that the sign was going to be repaired and there was going to be a re-lighting ceremony.  He also shared that he and a group of Auburn residents were behind the repair.  I wasn’t able to attend the re-lighting ceremony but I am very proud of my brother and his friends for getting the job done.   If something needs to be done, just do it!

Lesson #2 - Be Passionate

Love your family completely.

Live your faith completely.

Love your community completely.

Always give it your best effort.

Does anyone doubt that these sentences describe Paul?  He reminds me that it’s essential to be passionate…every single day.  Thank you Paul!