I was fortunate enough to have five uncles. My father had three brothers and my mother had two male siblings.

The last three months have claimed my two remaining living uncles. All five of my uncles died in retirement in Southern Florida, after living and working in the New York area for all of their active years. I always thought the Florida sun was supposed to be healthy and good for you. Actually, they all enjoyed their retirement and the Florida lifestyle.

I miss each one of my uncles, but I miss each of them in a uniquely separate way.

After all, what is the function of an uncle to a growing boy? Let me state my thoughts on the subject.

1. An uncle should be a role model, as in, "I want to grow up just like my Uncle Murray, strong and confident."

2. He should never be too serious with his nephew. (That job was reserved for Mom and Pop.)

3. He should take you for your Bar Mitzvah suit to the Lower East Side, like my Uncle Phil.

4. Have a catch or kick the soccer ball around with you when he was visiting.

5. Rib and kibitz you about girls, (not too much, just enough).

6. Take you to ball games, like Uncle Sheldon.

7. Ask you constantly what you intend to study and when you are going to get a meaningful job, just like my Uncle Sol always did.

8. My Uncle Leon told the same corny jokes for all the 60 years I knew him, for example: He would say about a food, any food, "If you eat that spinach for 100 years, you will live long." Ha! Ha!

9. Teach you to drive. My father was always too busy in the dry goods store; my uncles would teach me about cars and learning to drive.

10. Last, but not least, always be loving and kind, never too intruding and always have an ear for your problems.

As I face the world, Uncleless, I am sad. These guys knew me and cared about me from the day I was born until the day that they died. These guys are irreplaceable. I loved and needed each of them in a different manner.

As I write this tribute to my five dear, deceased uncles, I have realized something:

1. I, Stanley Greenberg, also am an uncle to 13 wonderful nieces and nephews.

2. I am not moving to Southern Florida in the near future.

3. I will try, very hard, to fulfill all my "Uncle Stanley" duties to the best of my ability.