Jimmy Comoe:
CLASS OF 1980
Franklin High SchoolClass of 1980
Los angeles, CA
Los Angeles Harbor CollegeClass of 1991
Wilmington, CA
Woodrow Wilson High SchoolClass of 1980
Los angeles, CA
Luther Burbank Middle SchoolClass of 1977
Los angeles, CA
Garvanza Elementary SchoolClass of 1974
Los angeles, CA
Jimmy's Story
The following story was published in the newspaper as the Fathers Day feature story in 1999. A pic of the front page is located in my photo's. Hope you enjoy it. Jimmy Comoe
Before my birth my biological father "Tony" was in the USAF stationed in England where he met my biological mother "Elizabeth" at a private casino, where she was employed as a cigar/cigarette girl.
During their relationship, Elizabeth became pregnant and gave birth to me in January 1962. Three months later and unwed, she became pregnant again with my sister, convincing Tony the proper thing for them was to marry and become a "family".
In 1964, the four of us came to the United States, and Tony reported to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. From what I understand, Elizabeth took very little interest in my sister and I, and decided one day to leave us with a babysitter, and take off to Las Vegas. When the babysitter realized Elizabeth was not coming back, she drove us to the Air Force base, returned us to Tony, and explained what happened. Devastated and unable to care for his two children, Tony confided in his immediate Sergeant (our current father) about his dilemma, and Sgt. Comoe assured Tony that he would assist in any way possible. Eventually the two agreed that Sgt. Comoe would take the children, and raise them as if they were his own.
Sgt. and Mrs. Comoe were already passed child-rearing age, and their daughter was already an adult. Nonetheless, at age 49 and 44, they decided it was in the children's best interest to be in a stable atmosphere, where they could be properly cared for and loved. Mind you, Sgt. and Mrs. Comoe were not of financial means, and this new responsibility meant sacrificing and penny pinching.
Within a few years, they saved enough money and hired an attorney to adopt us, but Elizabeth could not be located, and Tony was not of sound mind to sign the necessary documents. Since they could no longer afford the attorney services, they took a chance and baptized us, so we may enroll in school. The next several years were very difficult. They constantly worried over the possibility that Tony or Elizabeth, would show up at any moment, and demand the children back, which they had no legal recourse to prevent.
During our childhood, I used to ask our mother "were we adopted?" Our father never wa...Expand for more
nted us to know what took place, and always considered us his own. Whenever questioned why us kids looked so different from him and his wife, he would either say we resembled our grandparents, or go as far as telling people that we were the product of another relationship while overseas, just to safeguard us, even if this made him look bad. He always denied any question of adoption, and this continued throughout our childhood, and was never a subject for discussion.
What I find amazing are the sacrifices our parents made to protect us. Throughout our childhood, we lived a very normal life in a lower income neighborhood. While growing up our family lifestyle included some unusual behavior that I did not understand until adulthood. For example, when someone came knocking at our door, we had to pretend no one was home, this way our parents did not have to answer it. For years, if anyone called our house, they had to do the "signal" or our parents would not answer the telephone. (Ring once; hang up then call back again) This let us know that it was a family member calling or someone close to the family, which was just the rule then.
You see, I realize for years our parents lived in fear that we would be taken away from them. After all, we were never adopted, just taken in. They sacrificed tremendously for our well being and worked hard to provide for us. Through out our lives they offered us words of wisdom, taught us to be responsible, and understand the value of family. To this day, our father continues to teach young people how "important their mothers are", and making it in life, no matter what hardships they experience along the way.
When I look back, I realize how fortunate we were to be members of this family, and have learned the true definition of a father is not one that creates life, but one that gives life. It requires love, dedication, and sacrifice, to earn the title of "Father".
Jim Comoe
Long Beach, CA
(Note: A year after this story was published, my sister and I were finally adopted by our parents, which took place 36 years after we came to them. The day we went to court the Judge asked why it took so long? After I explained the circumstances, he granted the adoption, then looked over to our parents and said... "You are fine examples of true American hero's". I almost lost it.)
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