Gabe Girardi - "The Mailman"

Mary Kenniston

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Jun 24, 2011
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84
Henry "Gabe" Girardi, known in the pool world as "The Mailman," passed away on Christmas Eve in Las Vegas. He was 77.

Maybe I missed it but I don't see any mention of his passing here, so I will. I put together a tribute to him for my page on Facebook & probably due to a hectic holiday season, I neglected to post it on the other sites. I think it should be automatic that he be remembered here since for longer than I can remember, anyone looking for one pocket action in Vegas could get some from "The Mailman." He gave everyone action - he didn't duck anyone. I'm sure many of you here knew Gabe & maybe even played him some...many of you might not even know he passed away. Anyway, here's a copy of what I posted for my friend on Facebook...

I was first introduced to Gabe by my ex on a trip to Las Vegas in 1983 – they had both grown up in & around the pool rooms of West Haven, CT. As I had grown up on Long Island only about thirty miles away, also in an Italian family, we hit it off immediately as people often do coming from the same background & being far from home.

Gabe was in his late forties then – tall & slim with streaks of gray running through his dark hair. He’d walk into the pool room & had a smile, comment, wisecrack, joke or something for everybody. Gabe loved the pool room & the pool room loved Gabe. He was the consummate old school pool room guy – a character. He loved the game, loved the people, loved the conversation, loved matching up, loved to gamble. And yeah, he could play a little too…his love was one pocket.

Yeah, that was the Gabe that most people knew. I’m going to tell you about the other side of Gabe…the topnotch Vegas poker dealer side.

By the time I moved to Vegas in ‘86, Gabe & I had gotten to be pretty good friends through our frequent visits from southern California. When we first moved to Vegas, we shared an apartment with Gabe. I knew that if I wanted to live in Vegas, I was going to have to find a job. Gabe told me that he thought that I would love dealing poker but told me to go around to all the different casinos & look at all the job possibilities before making a decision. A few days later, I showed up at the Stardust, waited for Gabe to take his break & told him that, yeah, I wanted to deal poker too & asked him if he could recommend one of the dealing schools.

He laughed. “Dealing school! Ha! I could teach you in a week!”

Well, that was what he thought until he discovered that the only thing I knew about poker was that if you had three of 'em, it was better than two! He thought he was just going to have to teach me how to shuffle & pitch the cards! He didn’t know he was going to have to teach me EVERYTHING!!!

Gabe was off the next day so we went down to the Crystal Palace pool room & the owner, Henry Nogiec, gave us an old piece of cloth. On the way back to the house, we swung by the Stardust & Gabe came out with a set of casino playing cards & a hundred dollars worth of casino chips. We took it all home & Gabe spread the cloth over the kitchen table. He shoved the table up against the wall, went into my bedroom & came out with the mirror from my dresser. He propped the mirror up against the wall & that became my classroom. He showed me how to riffle & box the deck like the casinos require. After about a half hour, he stood up & told me that when I saw myself in the mirror shuffling like a Vegas dealer, we’d be ready for the next lesson!

It took me a couple days – I’m talking hours on end - to get to that point. I don’t know what hurt more – my butt or my hands! All I did was shuffle, eat & sleep! Over the course of the next many days, Gabe showed me everything – how to hold the deck, how to deal the cards for hold ‘em, how to pitch them in the air for stud, how to cut the chips, how to figure the rake. Since I knew absolutely nothing about poker, Gabe patiently explained what all the different hands were & I memorized which hands beat the others. He taught me the rules of the game, the mechanics, the vocabulary – everything. He had me deal out six hands at a time, flip them over & I learned how to read the cards – finding the best hand. Quickly. Of course, I did it in increments…one new skill at a time until the mirror told me I had it down. It was poker boot camp! I’d report for inspection & Gabe would teach me the next thing…

One night, as I was practicing, Gabe walked in with a few of the guys from the pool room, a case of beer & a few racks of chips. Surprised, I watched as Gabe took the mirror back to my bedroom, pulled the table out from the wall & the guys took their places at the table.

Turning to me, Gabe grinned & said, “Ready?!!!”

OMG!!! He wanted me to deal to these guys!

Talk about being nervous! I have to tell you – it was nothing like I’d ever felt playing pool! I was shaking like a leaf - I dropped the deck, cards squirted out of my hand, chips flew all over the table, I was brain dead on the rake, I couldn’t read the hands – but only for the first fifteen minutes or so. Then, gradually, I smoothed out, everything fell into place & I fell into a rhythm. I was dealing my first live game – even if it was just to the pool room guys!

As the night wore on, I gained more confidence & actually started having fun! When the guys finally left, Gabe told me that he didn’t think I could get any better without being in a real game. It had been almost three weeks of doing nothing but practicing & sleeping! He was proud of how far I’d come & admitted to me that when I told him I was a complete poker newbie, he thought about bailing & sending me to a school! He also told me that now would come the hard part – getting my foot in the door of a casino…

He told me to meet him at the pool room the next day…he had an idea. I walked in & saw him talking to a man that I had beaten out of a thousand when I first came to town. Gabe waved me over & asked me if I knew him. Before I could answer, Kenny growled, “Yeah, we know each other.”

Apparently, Kenny was still a little warm from the ass-whuppin’ I’d put on him. It turned out that Kenny was the poker room manager at the old Vegas World casino. Gabe had explained to him that he had taught me how to deal & now was asking him for a favor - to give me an audition. Kenny stood there glaring at me for what seemed like an eternity & then turned to Gabe & spit out, “Only for you...”

Walking away, Kenny barked over his shoulder, “Show up at tonight at 2 am in black & whites – tell the shift boss I sent you.”

I high-fived Gabe! Woohoo!!! Vegas World was a dump but hey – I had a shot! I showed up that night & it turned out that the shift boss had been a great dealer himself & knew Gabe well - they had come up together in the poker business. A friend of Gabe’s was a friend of Mike’s & he put the finishing touches on the job Gabe started – teaching me to be topnotch poker dealer. Within a month or so, I was the best they had & dealing to the owner, Bob Stupak, & all his high roller friends like Puggy Pearson, Jack “Treetop” Strauss, Gabe Kaplan, Bobby Baldwin, Sarge, etc. The rest is history…

I dealt for a few years, opened Cue-Topia & then returned to dealing until I left Vegas. I loved the job & it provided me with an excellent living for many years. I owed it all to Gabe. We formed a bond during those early days – a bond of deep friendship & respect.

Gabe worked hard, played hard, partied hard – he loved Vegas & all it had to offer. He was proud of his kids – they meant the world to him. When he said he was going to do something, he’d do it. His word was his bond. He was solid – he was a stand-up guy – a rarity in the pool room & Las Vegas.

This one was an especially hard one for me to write. He taught me a lot about people, Vegas, the poker world, the pool world, the gambling world - about life. My condolences to his family & many friends. RIP, Gabe…


Photo courtesy of Melissa Little
 

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One Pocket Ghost

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May 25, 2004
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9,715
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Ghosttown
More very sad news..it's depressing...

I knew Gabe, he was a good guy, and a fun guy. I first met him in the poolroom in Vegas about 20-25 yrs. ago, and we played some One Pocket - he was a solid player - played the game the right way, smart and careful. I last saw him at the old DCC about 7 yrs. ago..we watched a match together and then went and played each other some One Pocket in the action room - we were a good even match for each other.

Rest in peace Gabe, we'll play some when I see you next.

- Ghost
 

jrhendy

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Joined
May 24, 2004
Messages
5,717
From
Placerville, CA
Gave

Gave

Great tribute Mary,

I played Gabe many times over the years. I first met him in the 70's in El Monte, CA when he visited his wife's family. He was an old school guy who was tougher than nails on the pool table. There probably isn't one or two games difference after all the times we played.

Rest in peace Gabe, we will all be matching up again someday.
 

Island Drive

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Joined
May 1, 2011
Messages
5,192
From
florence, colorado
Nice write Mare. I know I've seen the man before, but ones word is all we need in life. RIP to his friends and family and loves ones, sounds like he'd of had quite a few in his lifetime.
 

androd

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Dec 10, 2008
Messages
7,718
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New Braunfels tx.
Mary, sorry for your loss. Great article. I wasn't fortunate enough to know him.
I can only hope someday someone will say what you said below, about me.
A great compliment.

"When he said he was going to do something, he’d do it. His word was his bond. He was solid – he was a stand-up guy – a rarity in the pool room & Las Vegas."

Rod.
 

wincardona

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Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
7,693
From
Dallas Tx.
Henry "Gabe" Girardi, known in the pool world as "The Mailman," passed away on Christmas Eve in Las Vegas. He was 77.

Maybe I missed it but I don't see any mention of his passing here, so I will. I put together a tribute to him for my page on Facebook & probably due to a hectic holiday season, I neglected to post it on the other sites. I think it should be automatic that he be remembered here since for longer than I can remember, anyone looking for one pocket action in Vegas could get some from "The Mailman." He gave everyone action - he didn't duck anyone. I'm sure many of you here knew Gabe & maybe even played him some...many of you might not even know he passed away. Anyway, here's a copy of what I posted for my friend on Facebook...

I was first introduced to Gabe by my ex on a trip to Las Vegas in 1983 – they had both grown up in & around the pool rooms of West Haven, CT. As I had grown up on Long Island only about thirty miles away, also in an Italian family, we hit it off immediately as people often do coming from the same background & being far from home.

Gabe was in his late forties then – tall & slim with streaks of gray running through his dark hair. He’d walk into the pool room & had a smile, comment, wisecrack, joke or something for everybody. Gabe loved the pool room & the pool room loved Gabe. He was the consummate old school pool room guy – a character. He loved the game, loved the people, loved the conversation, loved matching up, loved to gamble. And yeah, he could play a little too…his love was one pocket.

Yeah, that was the Gabe that most people knew. I’m going to tell you about the other side of Gabe…the topnotch Vegas poker dealer side.

By the time I moved to Vegas in ‘86, Gabe & I had gotten to be pretty good friends through our frequent visits from southern California. When we first moved to Vegas, we shared an apartment with Gabe. I knew that if I wanted to live in Vegas, I was going to have to find a job. Gabe told me that he thought that I would love dealing poker but told me to go around to all the different casinos & look at all the job possibilities before making a decision. A few days later, I showed up at the Stardust, waited for Gabe to take his break & told him that, yeah, I wanted to deal poker too & asked him if he could recommend one of the dealing schools.

He laughed. “Dealing school! Ha! I could teach you in a week!”

Well, that was what he thought until he discovered that the only thing I knew about poker was that if you had three of 'em, it was better than two! He thought he was just going to have to teach me how to shuffle & pitch the cards! He didn’t know he was going to have to teach me EVERYTHING!!!

Gabe was off the next day so we went down to the Crystal Palace pool room & the owner, Henry Nogiec, gave us an old piece of cloth. On the way back to the house, we swung by the Stardust & Gabe came out with a set of casino playing cards & a hundred dollars worth of casino chips. We took it all home & Gabe spread the cloth over the kitchen table. He shoved the table up against the wall, went into my bedroom & came out with the mirror from my dresser. He propped the mirror up against the wall & that became my classroom. He showed me how to riffle & box the deck like the casinos require. After about a half hour, he stood up & told me that when I saw myself in the mirror shuffling like a Vegas dealer, we’d be ready for the next lesson!

It took me a couple days – I’m talking hours on end - to get to that point. I don’t know what hurt more – my butt or my hands! All I did was shuffle, eat & sleep! Over the course of the next many days, Gabe showed me everything – how to hold the deck, how to deal the cards for hold ‘em, how to pitch them in the air for stud, how to cut the chips, how to figure the rake. Since I knew absolutely nothing about poker, Gabe patiently explained what all the different hands were & I memorized which hands beat the others. He taught me the rules of the game, the mechanics, the vocabulary – everything. He had me deal out six hands at a time, flip them over & I learned how to read the cards – finding the best hand. Quickly. Of course, I did it in increments…one new skill at a time until the mirror told me I had it down. It was poker boot camp! I’d report for inspection & Gabe would teach me the next thing…

One night, as I was practicing, Gabe walked in with a few of the guys from the pool room, a case of beer & a few racks of chips. Surprised, I watched as Gabe took the mirror back to my bedroom, pulled the table out from the wall & the guys took their places at the table.

Turning to me, Gabe grinned & said, “Ready?!!!”

OMG!!! He wanted me to deal to these guys!

Talk about being nervous! I have to tell you – it was nothing like I’d ever felt playing pool! I was shaking like a leaf - I dropped the deck, cards squirted out of my hand, chips flew all over the table, I was brain dead on the rake, I couldn’t read the hands – but only for the first fifteen minutes or so. Then, gradually, I smoothed out, everything fell into place & I fell into a rhythm. I was dealing my first live game – even if it was just to the pool room guys!

As the night wore on, I gained more confidence & actually started having fun! When the guys finally left, Gabe told me that he didn’t think I could get any better without being in a real game. It had been almost three weeks of doing nothing but practicing & sleeping! He was proud of how far I’d come & admitted to me that when I told him I was a complete poker newbie, he thought about bailing & sending me to a school! He also told me that now would come the hard part – getting my foot in the door of a casino…

He told me to meet him at the pool room the next day…he had an idea. I walked in & saw him talking to a man that I had beaten out of a thousand when I first came to town. Gabe waved me over & asked me if I knew him. Before I could answer, Kenny growled, “Yeah, we know each other.”

Apparently, Kenny was still a little warm from the ass-whuppin’ I’d put on him. It turned out that Kenny was the poker room manager at the old Vegas World casino. Gabe had explained to him that he had taught me how to deal & now was asking him for a favor - to give me an audition. Kenny stood there glaring at me for what seemed like an eternity & then turned to Gabe & spit out, “Only for you...”

Walking away, Kenny barked over his shoulder, “Show up at tonight at 2 am in black & whites – tell the shift boss I sent you.”

I high-fived Gabe! Woohoo!!! Vegas World was a dump but hey – I had a shot! I showed up that night & it turned out that the shift boss had been a great dealer himself & knew Gabe well - they had come up together in the poker business. A friend of Gabe’s was a friend of Mike’s & he put the finishing touches on the job Gabe started – teaching me to be topnotch poker dealer. Within a month or so, I was the best they had & dealing to the owner, Bob Stupak, & all his high roller friends like Puggy Pearson, Jack “Treetop” Strauss, Gabe Kaplan, Bobby Baldwin, Sarge, etc. The rest is history…

I dealt for a few years, opened Cue-Topia & then returned to dealing until I left Vegas. I loved the job & it provided me with an excellent living for many years. I owed it all to Gabe. We formed a bond during those early days – a bond of deep friendship & respect.

Gabe worked hard, played hard, partied hard – he loved Vegas & all it had to offer. He was proud of his kids – they meant the world to him. When he said he was going to do something, he’d do it. His word was his bond. He was solid – he was a stand-up guy – a rarity in the pool room & Las Vegas.

This one was an especially hard one for me to write. He taught me a lot about people, Vegas, the poker world, the pool world, the gambling world - about life. to his family & many friends. RIP,
Photo courtesy of Melissa Little
This is the first I've heard of this and I know how close you and Gabe have been.
Gabe and I have been very friendly through out the years, we have played one another many many times and have always enjoyed playing one another, he was truly a one pocket bug it was clearly his favorite game. He played on Mizeraks senior tour and we roomed together a few times, I really liked him. And yes he was a solid. Human being. Gabe was full of life and had a lot of energy it just seemed that he was going to last forever, but we all know that can't happen. I'm sorry to hear of his passing and my sincerest condolences go out to you and those who were close to him, he will be missed.

Hope to see you soon, maybe at the Derby if you should come. God Bless and stay healthy.

Your friend always,
Bill Incardona
.
 

demonrho

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SoCal
Gabe was something else. I remember the last time I saw him, a few years ago, around midnight in the parking lot of the Cue Club in Vegas. Gabe roared up in his car, jumped out and pushed his way through all the crack heads and gangbangers in the lot, and then strutted into the the Club and proceeded to get in action all night all while the rap music was blasting at at an ear splitting level. Pretty impressive for a guy in his 70s.
 

wincardona

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Aug 7, 2007
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7,693
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Dallas Tx.
Gabe was something else. I remember the last time I saw him, a few years ago, around midnight in the parking lot of the Cue Club in Vegas. Gabe roared up in his car, jumped out and pushed his way through all the crack heads and gangbangers in the lot, and then strutted into the the Club and proceeded to get in action all night all while the rap music was blasting at at an ear splitting level. Pretty impressive for a guy in his 70s.

That's Gabe, thanks for the story.

Bill Incardona
 

fred bentivegna

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Feb 2, 2005
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6,690
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chicago illinois
I really didnt know Gabe, we never played, but I do remember him saying hello to me at DCC. Seemed like a good guy then, another good one leaving us too soon. My condolences to you, Mare.

Beard
 

Frank Almanza

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Aug 31, 2005
Messages
2,569
From
Upland, California
So sorry to hear this about the mailman. He was a friendly and pleasant man. I last talked to him a couple of years ago and he seemed to be in great health. Nice guy and truly loved one pocket. RIP Gabe.
Great story Mary.
 

Mary Kenniston

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Jun 24, 2011
Messages
84
Yeah, this one was a tough one for me in a very tough year of losing friends.

Love you guys...thanks.
 

Fatboy

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Feb 27, 2007
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Vegas & LA
I just heard of this yesterday, very very sad. I knew him over 20 years, we played 10 ball for 20$/set and he beat me double hill or by 2 games 2 sets, broke out even playing 8 ball. I was in real bad shape with my back this was in 08 I'd guess, don't seem that long ago but it was.

The last time we played my back was so bad he let me off, I just paid the time. That was a class move. My plan was to play him 1P someday in 08 I didn't know much about 1P and would have got robbed. By the time I moved from Vegas I know I win playing everything but 1P, sadly we never played , I don't think I could have ever beat him playin 1P, rotation games and 8 ball, by 11 I had a little the best of it. But more important is playing him was always a pleasure and I learned,
we were friends never big. $$$ it was social old school pool. I really really liked him lots. We were very competitive wity each other, that's why I mention our playing. He certainly a more experienced player than me and both of us at 45 years old he Robb's me everytime.

I remember him saying in 08' "find me anyone my age and I'll play them 1P head up". He really meant it,

I. Will miss him very much, I always. Like how he rolled and. Style.

Eric
 
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Fatboy

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Messages
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Mary that. Was a great tribute you wrote. I made my. Post without reading anything. I VERY sad of his passing, we had unfinished biz at the pool table together. And I admired his swagger.


Remember Tony Potts, David Lee's friend from Phoenix ? Back in cuetopia in 92 he told me " when I get old I want to look like Mailman". I always remembered that and I agreed, I'm shocked he passed, I had my phones off for a few days and got a txt from a friend he passed.


To me he was a Vegas legend kinda like Rex in the pool world.

With great sorrow

Eric
 

Mary Kenniston

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Jun 24, 2011
Messages
84
Thanks, Tom...

Thanks, Eric - yeah, I sure do remember Tony - wow! That name's a blast from the past...:) I remember Gabe always saying that too - how he'd play anyone his age. Not too many showed up either. Rex & Gabe - both of them Vegas originals & old school characters. The good old days...

I don't know if I ever told you but after Rex died, his daughter came by the pool room with a little metal box. It held some of Rex's ashes. He had told her that he wanted them put on the light over Table 16 - the tight one pocket table - so he could sweat the action. :) We did & they stayed up there for a couple years & then one day we noticed they were gone. Someone had stolen Rex's ashes. Unbelievable. Just a nondescript little metal box - nothing fancy. Stolen.

Hope your back is doing better - give me a buzz when you come up for air...;)
 

NH Steve

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New Hampshire
Thanks, Tom...

Thanks, Eric - yeah, I sure do remember Tony - wow! That name's a blast from the past...:) I remember Gabe always saying that too - how he'd play anyone his age. Not too many showed up either. Rex & Gabe - both of them Vegas originals & old school characters. The good old days...

I don't know if I ever told you but after Rex died, his daughter came by the pool room with a little metal box. It held some of Rex's ashes. He had told her that he wanted them put on the light over Table 16 - the tight one pocket table - so he could sweat the action. :) We did & they stayed up there for a couple years & then one day we noticed they were gone. Someone had stolen Rex's ashes. Unbelievable. Just a nondescript little metal box - nothing fancy. Stolen.

Hope your back is doing better - give me a buzz when you come up for air...;)
Maybe not stolen -- just moved to sweat another game somewhere when the action shifted ;)
 
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