I have written so much about my Mom, Dad, and Uncle Sam (who was married to Mom’s sister, my dear Aunt Georgia). On this date in 1915, my Uncle Sam was born. Uncle Sam (officially Salvatore “Sam” Sclafani) was my father’s first cousin, and they were very close growing up. I lost my father in 1972, when I was 12, but even during the time that Dad was alive, Uncle Sam was a second father to me. He continued to be so until his death on January 24, 1994. His gift of humor and his fiery commentary on the events of the day deeply impacted me. Whereas I dedicated my first book, Marx, Hayek, and Utopia, to my Mom, I dedicated my second book, Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical, to Uncle Sam. Neither of them lived to see the publication of those books, but they were among my biggest cheerleaders and knew that the books would be dedicated to them.
When Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1990, all of us rallied to take care of her. She was truly a stabilizing force not only for her kids but for the entire extended family. Uncle Sam loved Mom so dearly and was shaken by her diagnosis and treatment. So, when I came upon this lovely photo of Uncle Sam dancing with Mom as she was dealing with chemotherapy and radiation, it was a wonderful illustration of their unbreakable bond and profound love for one another.
Uncle Sam was a proud veteran of the navy in World War II, but he was also deeply critical of those who would bring this country to war, something that resonates to this day. I interviewed him in 1976 and published a tribute to him in 2004 and in an extended essay in 2021: “The Greatest Enemies of Peace are Those who Extol War as Noble and Heroic.” Last year, I published extensive WW2 correspondence between Uncle Sam and Mom. For those who missed it, check out “Letters from World War II: Part IV—The Navy Boys“.
I honor the memory of both Mom and Uncle Sam and cherish the wonderful times we had together.
Notablog 