While I was preparing to write the Wild Bill Guarnere post a few weeks ago, Debi Lynch Rafferty, Bill’s granddaughter, told me a beautiful story which put me on a meaningful mission.
First, I talked to ParadoxLabs owner Brett Hart, my boss. After hearing the story Debi had told me and learning that the foundation did not have a website, he immediately stepped up to the plate and offered to design a top-of-the-line website and to lend me to the foundation to help them with PR. He then asked me to focus a blog post on the efforts of those doing the right thing to make The Wild Bill Guarnere Foundation a legitimate, working non-profit that would continue the giving legacy of Wild Bill.
A few emails and a phone call later, I was in touch with Linda Tosto and Jim Bennett. These were not your typical real estate agent and investor; they were touched by a hero and were inspired to do something simply amazing. Below is the story that Jim sent to me answering all my questions. Rather than treat this as a typical interview, I received permission from Jim to publish the story how he sent it to me. Please enjoy:
In late October, area real estate investor Jim Bennett and his real estate agent with Liberty Bell Real Estate in Jenkintown and occasional partner, Linda, set out for the city in search of a few new investment properties.
"It started out as any ordinary day, but ended up being the most extraordinary day of both our careers. We traveled to South Philadelphia, where we identified several bank-owned, “fixer-upper” properties that looked promising. Since we could not find enough “bargain basement” priced houses to make the trip worthwhile, we added a few other houses to the list that were more than we would ordinarily look to pay for rental properties. The first five or six houses on the list were disasters – either in horrible condition or on very rough blocks, or both. As the day moved forward, we were feeling defeated.
However, after a great deal of disappointment, we made one last stop at a small, two bedroom house on Winton Street. As we pulled on the block, our spirits improved. This block had promise, and much more than we could have ever imagined.
We identified our target and grew more excited. The exterior looked neat, clean and well kept, and we notice a chair lift with a green rain cover. Clearly, an elderly or handicapped person had proudly lived in this home. We opened the screen door and immediately noticed an intercom system, which is not normal for a little row home. Once inside, we began to explore the home’s interior. We noticed another handicapped chair lift that went from the first to the second floor.
As we explored, we noticed an intercom phone in the living room on the wall near where a sofa once resided. The person living in this home must have had a tough time getting around!
And then our lives were sent on a brand new journey as we noticed a plaque on the living room wall. The plaque said: Eindhoven, 18 September 1944, with the American Flag, the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle and the flag of the Netherlands.
Our hearts were overwhelmed as we both screeched the word, "Wow!" We just realized the disabled person who called this house home was probably a WWII Vet. Numerous patriotic plaques filled the walls throughout the house. This was obviously a proud American.
Next, we walked into the kitchen and saw a handicapped accessible bathtub on the left wall. On the kitchen screen door was a decal – another 101st Airborne insignia. We knew for sure that this veteran was someone special. And, for Linda, this was becoming surreal and she was becoming connected to this property on an entirely different level.
You see, Linda’s uncle was a member of the 101st in Vietnam, her dad had retired from the Air Force and she has multiple family members who served our country. For me, my father served in the Army during WWII and landed in Southern France very shortly after D-Day. For the two of us, respect for the military was not taught, it was lived. Little did we know that in just a few minutes our hearts would be overflowing with respect, pride, and excitement.
While Linda was on the first floor, I headed to the second and spotted a dusty old bible on the front bedroom window sill. In the back bedroom was a hospital bed. I was starting to get a little upset, but I kept going. In the rear bedroom closet, there was a white silk pillow, yellowed with age – another 101st Airborne emblem. The owner of this house was damn proud of the 101st – that was for sure!
Then I found something that brought a tear to my eye – a collage of photos of an older man holding all his war metals. With a closer look, I immediately recognized the man in that photo.
I hollered down the steps to Linda "Lin, you have to see this. This is Band of Brothers. This is Wild Bill’s House."
We both were pretty upset and shaken at this point. This was no ordinary house. This was the home of Greatness! Both of us were honored and humbled. We stood there in awe.
After studying a few other photos in the back bedroom, and gathering our composure a bit, we headed back downstairs. On the first floor were two closets. I opened the one closer to the living room and burst in tears. There in the corner were two pairs of crutches.
We both loved the mini-series Band of Brothers, and had both watched it several times. We knew the story of “Wild Bill” Guarnere and how he lost his leg saving a comrade, Joe Toye, in the Battle of the Bulge. We knew Bill passed away earlier in 2014 and remembered the flags in Pennsylvania flew at half-staff in his honor.
Observing Bill’s crutches was all too much. We left the house in tears, returning to our car.
Lin immediately jumped on the MLS with her smart phone to confirm property ownership. Public records confirmed what we both already knew – the property was in fact owned by William J. and Frances Guarnere, his late wife. Of all the houses in South Philadelphia, stumbling across this one was far too much of a coincidence. There had to be a greater plan, or calling, at work here.
The hell with ‘buying low and selling high.’ This was certainly not "any other" investment property - far from it! This was the home of one of the greatest American World War II heroes who ever lived – Staff Sergeant “Wild Bill” William J. Guarnere, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Regiment, of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
It did not take more than a few seconds for us to come to the conclusion that we could not treat this home as an average rental property. No! Instead, we felt the only ‘right thing’ to do was to honor and pay tribute to the great man that lived here since the late 1950’s. We quickly devised a plan.
Still both in tears, I told Linda to call the listing agent, Liz Troneri of William Festa Real Estate and present her with an "as-is, where-is, all cash, full price, no contingencies offer for the property." Linda asked Liz to express to the Guarnere family that the plan for the house was to renovate it and find a disabled vet in need of housing. We felt there was no better way to honor the memory of “Wild Bill” than to offer his home to a deserving vet. We are privileged to be the new caretakers of this home, but it will always be Wild Bill’s home.
After completion of renovations, we will work together with both the VA and the Guarnere family to find a veteran that will hopefully feel just as honored as we do.”
The Guarnere family plans to donate a commemorative plaque in Bill’s honor which will be proudly displayed in the home.
Bill and Linda’s story does not end here. Linda still wanted to do more. She was connected to this home and did not feel comfortable receiving a commission. This house had become an important part of her life and to honor the man she considered to be a great American Hero, she donated her $2000 commission to the Wild Bill Memorial Statue Fund.
In my conversation with Linda, I felt an immediate connection to her as well. Linda’s daughter is a history teacher, just like I used to be, and both our fathers served in the Military. We talked for an hour about my dad’s service during WW II, the importance of our military, our love of the Greatest Generation, and our need to continue the legacy of Wild Bill so others can be connected as well. We laughed, we cried, and I felt like we had known each other our whole lives.
This is what Wild Bill Guarnere does to people. Although he is no longer with us, he continues to inspire, motivate, and bring out the best in people.
In business, we always talk about networking and connections as a way to improve sales and receive brand recognition. However, in this instance a real estate agent, an investor, and a blogger connected because of a story that touched their hearts. This connection did not lead to increased sales or brand recognition - this connection led to answering a calling to do the right thing, for the right reasons, for the right man!