One side of Randall that you may not know is that he was a man of prayer. We would join hands and pray together over meals in or out. We often would pray together before attending meetings that were rumored to become heated. We would ask God to send His angels to close the mouths of the lions as He did for Daniel and bring peace and resolution in Jesus' name. Then afterwards, even we would be amazed that it went so well. Sometimes the ones that were planning to cause trouble did not show up. I'll miss that, but if you need someone to pray with about anything, anytime feel free to contact me. If by email put "prayer partner" in the subject, God loves you and I love you. Debra

Story share to us by Aunt Louise:

Randy was a darling little boy and I have many wonderful memories of him. Once he stayed with me and my mother while Joan recovered from some minor surgery. He was about three years old. I took him to nursery school during the day while I went to my teaching job. I had bought him a pair of gloves- he loved having a place for each finger.  And then on the first day of nursery school he would not take them off, but wore them all day. When I came to pick him up and walk home together he let me put them in my handbag for safety. He didn’t want to lose them. It was so sweet.

                                                                                                      Aunt Lou

Randy was always so good to me that I wanted to do something special for him.  I couldn’t come up with anything so, as I often do, I was asking God to give me an idea.  Just then the phone rang.  At that time we were spending Jan & Feb in FL.  He just flew to NJ for business & was with the “kids”.   Then came the question…. Can I get a dog?  This subject had come up before.  My answer was always “no”.  We have had pets before (cats, dogs, goldfish).  My experience was even with assurances that I won’t have to do a thing it becomes my pet as well.  Randy always loved dogs and not just any dogs…big dogs.  Granted there was plenty of room for a dog to run around on a farm, but he would want to let him come inside.  It was the one issue that I was standing firm on.  No More Pets.  As I am listening to him describe how wonderful and loving and well trained this particular dog was, all I could think was, “Very funny, God… You know I don’t want dogs in the house.”  Finally, I realized… this was the answer to my prayer.  I could do this for him.  So I laughed and said, “All right, you can get the dog.”   To which he replied, “ Oh good…I already did.”

 This is a story that not many of you may know as it was kept to myself and my inner family circle. My father and I often challenged each other in physical/sporting events. This one event I was never able to beat him in all of our battles. A simple game of one on one basketball. Let me say that as a young child he would just swat the ball down and run me over. Then there came the time I was big enough to make it a challenge or so I thought. If you know my father he not only dominates you with his physical skills but his mental ones as well. Well as my speed and strength grew he started to use mental warfare. He would guard me outside but always let me pass by and just as I went for the shot or layup he would yell goose!!!! Also at the same time, that's right you guessed it he would goose my backside. So as the years passed that's right years it never stopped until he didn't even have to touch me anymore as all he had to do is let me run by and say goose!!! I would almost crumble to the ground. The last time we played he used his tactics on me that he trained into my brain and won again. All I could do is tell my mommy on him. So the obvious answer to your question is I had a big fat GOOSE egg in the win column.

I will forever remember another Terminix Superstars trip to San Diego. We took a day and went to Disneyland. Tony Simone, another branch manager had his wife and two pre teen daughters with him. Imagine the smile on everyone's face as Randy took both girls by the hand and the three of them were merrily skipping down the central plaza of Fantasyland! Absolutely precious! The big man had a big kid inside of him.....

In 1989, Randy was my regional manager with Terminix. My first branch assignment was a horror story, just massive problems to fix. What happened occured about a month into my assignment...

My daily budget for new termite jobs was more than $6000 per day with a maximum of 2 or 3 extra services (at company expense) That Friday I had about $2000 scheduled and at least 10 extra services, on Saturday I had $1500 work scheduled and 12 extra services and on Monday I had nearly $10,000 in new work scheduled.
Randy called me on Thursday and he was LIVID!!! He was yelling "Mr. Palmisano, on Friday you have scheduled ZIPPETY DOO DAH!!! On Saturday you have scheduled ZIPPETY AAY!!! I couldn't resist; I replied "Yes but Monday - MY OH MY WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY! As upset as he was, he started laughing and in a soft calm voice said "Ken, I know there are big problems there. Please do what you can" and hung up the phone. Two years later as we were in Bermuda as national award winners for Terminix, he proudly retold that story to corporate executives and vice presidents....  Ya gotta love it 

    

Randy, as Jennifer mention was a story teller.  One of the best I know.  This story is my favorite. 

Randy took Debbie to Hawaii for vacation one year.  I believe they were touring the Dole Pinapple plant when Randy had to use the bathroom.  He went in and as he was using the bathroom he began to hear the clip clop of shoes.  Women's shoes and women's voices too.  He realized that he had accidentally gone into the womens bathroom.  He waited and waited hoping the women would leave but even though women left, more women came into the restroom.  So he decided to to buck it up, walk out of the stall, go wash his hands and leave as quickly as he could.  As he left, the women just stood there in silence.  Ha! 

Randy ~ I sure will miss you - you always made me feel like I was your favorite, but I know thats how you made everyone feel.  Especially ky kids.  Thanks for all the memories and fun.

Happy Trails to you - till we meet again!

I have so many wonderful memories of Uncle Randy. It is hard to pick just one, but if I were, one of my fondest memories of him are at Disney World. I went the first time when I was 4, then later when I was 17.

His favorite ride to go on was Pirates of the Caribbean. I remember as we were walking to go in line, he started singing at the top of his voice "yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me!" At first I was a little embarassed. I kind of looked around to see if anyone noticed, and of course they did. But by the end of the ride, I was singing right along with him. It was so much fun.

I have gone on the ride since then, and I always sing along now. We were planning to go on another Disney trip with him, and I was very much looking forward to Uncle Randy and I singing together on Pirates of the Caribbean. It is hard to grasp that we won't get to go on it together again. But I do know that I will always think of him when I ride.

Uncle Randy, until we meet in Heaven, "yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTQ5eWBlApY

(The first part of this video shows the ride and plays the song.)

How do you possibly put into words everything you would want to share?  To sum up a lifetime is impossible.  Thankfully, I know his story will go on in our hearts forever.  A piece of him lives on through those who knew him. 

Dad was always the storyteller in our home.  Sometimes he would share the same story again and again.  (Of course, those stories were the best ones, so they were worth hearing more than once).   I am sure our family members & some friends know the ones I am talking about.  The Myrtle Beach story with Don, Jack & Rich was one of my favorites.

I hope you all will consider taking a minute to share one that you can remember with us.  Thanks, Jennifer