From Pittsburgh (In our family he was known as the "Lemonade Guy")
Kenny Geidel's distinctive, high-pitched cries at Pittsburgh sporting events were virtually impossible to ignore.
No matter what the score of the game, no matter whether fans cared for the lemonade or cotton candy or other product the popular stadium vendor was peddling, they turned their head in his direction.
"Whenever I would hear him walking up and down the aisles, it made me feel happy," said Olivia Piccolo, 12, of Coraopolis, before the Pirates' game on Tuesday night at PNC Park. "When I heard that he died, I felt sad. Hearing him is something I'll miss when I come to the games."
Geidel, a fixture at games for more than 25 years, was working the Pirates-Astros game on Sunday, his calls resonating among the Mother's Day crowd, when he fell ill.
He was rushed to UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland, where he died Monday after surgery for an intestinal ailment. He was 64.
His wife of nearly 40 years, Janice, recalled his disdain for missing games.
"He burned his hands once so badly that he had to get skin grafts," she said. "The day they released him, he went down to the stadium and worked. He did it with gloves on."
Read more:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_736329.html#ixzz1M2uU8hXg
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