Tuesday, February 02, 2021

CATCHING UP WITH ... Danny Kay, BJ mailing room retiree

 



Danny Kay, BJ mailing room chairman before he retired to chase dinosaurs, is regaling his fellow residents as the Piano Man at Menorah Park nursing home in Beachwood, Ohio.

That’s word from his grandson, Matthew Blum.

Danny is following the advice of Billy Joel:

Sing us a song you're the Piano Man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feelin' alright

And, as singer/actor Danny Kaye, born in New York City as Daniel David Kaminsky, once sang, “Everything Is Tickety-Boo” with BJs Danny Kay.

Danny came from Detroit to the BJ Mailroom – Packaging Department these days – in April 1970.

He once lived at 1759 Wiltshire Boulevard in Akron.

BJ’s Danny was named mailing room chairman in 1974.

He was listed in the 1981 BJ directory and he’s 94 years old so he probably retired in about 1991, give or take a year.

The email I got from grandson Matthew:

“Hello,

“I am writing to you after coming across your blog site in reference to the ABJ retirees and the ongoing story of what is currently happening to the retirement benefits of the employees (the BJ bankruptcy and David Black’s abandonment of death benefits, health care and prescriptions).  My grandfather Daniel Kay is alive and well at age 94 and your address on file is from his old home he used to live in while in Akron. 

“He has long moved out of that house and currently resides at Menorah Park in Beachwood, Ohio after our family (my mother, 1 of 2 remaining daughters of Mr. Kay and me) had moved him there after a recent fall. 

“He is doing well and in very good spirits.  We can’t, however, tell him of what is going on with the newspaper and his benefits changing as it will not be pleasant news for him.  So please respect our wishes that all communication will go to the family with the addresses provided below. 

“As a personal note, my grandfather is keeping everyone entertained in his wing of the nursing home playing piano from his room and the sounds of his music carry the halls where the other residents can enjoy his fine playing. 

“Once they can congregate after the pandemic, I am sure he will resume playing the larger piano outside in the main areas of his residence area.

“Mr. Kay’s current address is at:

“Daniel Kay

“27100 Cedar Road

“Beachwood, Ohio 44122              

“His daughter’s address for all communications:

“Barbara Blum

“7220 Cottesmore Lane

“Solon, Ohio 44139

“Thank you very much for posting this update and we are glad someone is looking out for my grandfather and all ABJ retirees going through this situation.

“Matthew Blum

“Grandson of Mr. Daniel Kay”

Matthew’s email address:

matt@matthewblum.com

So, if Danny’s friends and former BJ co-workers want to drop him a card, you know where to mail it, to Barbara Blum, his daughter.

She’s get it to the nursing home Piano Man.

That would be sounding the right note.

Take that, Billy Joel!


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