On June 4, 1997 the world lost one of it's sweetest souls when my wonderful dad died of lung cancer, a brutal disease he said he would not wish on his worst enemy... as if he actually had one. He was only 64 years old. Not a young man but certainly much before his time.
He was a kind, patient and gentle father who would always make time for his kids. He was involved (or at least interested) in everything we did. He was a sweet soul, incredibly funny and a talented artist, painter, carpenter and singer. Boy, could he SING!!
He was a Navy Korean War Veteran and served aboard three ships, including the USS Donner and USS Des Moines as a signalman sending critical, secret messages between ships using Morse code, lights and flags.
He surely wasn't perfect and made his share of mistakes, but in all my life with him I never saw him do anything to hurt another human being in any way, either physically, emotionally or financially. He never looked down at anyone for their station in life. He treated everyone with respect and would no sooner walk by a janitor or doorman without cheerfully saying hello than he would the president of the United States. He never once uttered a racial or ethnic slur and would have never tolerated that from us. He was a gentleman by definition because he was just that, a "gentle man."
I still live my life in a way that would make him proud of me and always will, but even if I live a hundred years, nothing I ever do or accomplish will make me prouder than simply being this man's son.
He was a kind, patient and gentle father who would always make time for his kids. He was involved (or at least interested) in everything we did. He was a sweet soul, incredibly funny and a talented artist, painter, carpenter and singer. Boy, could he SING!!
He was a Navy Korean War Veteran and served aboard three ships, including the USS Donner and USS Des Moines as a signalman sending critical, secret messages between ships using Morse code, lights and flags.
He surely wasn't perfect and made his share of mistakes, but in all my life with him I never saw him do anything to hurt another human being in any way, either physically, emotionally or financially. He never looked down at anyone for their station in life. He treated everyone with respect and would no sooner walk by a janitor or doorman without cheerfully saying hello than he would the president of the United States. He never once uttered a racial or ethnic slur and would have never tolerated that from us. He was a gentleman by definition because he was just that, a "gentle man."
I still live my life in a way that would make him proud of me and always will, but even if I live a hundred years, nothing I ever do or accomplish will make me prouder than simply being this man's son.
On June 4, 1997 the world lost one of it's sweetest souls when my wonderful dad died of lung cancer, a brutal disease he said he would not wish on his worst enemy... as if he actually had one. He was only 64 years old. Not a young man but certainly much before his time.
He was a kind, patient and gentle father who would always make time for his kids. He was involved (or at least interested) in everything we did. He was a sweet soul, incredibly funny and a talented artist, painter, carpenter and singer. Boy, could he SING!!
He was a Navy Korean War Veteran and served aboard three ships, including the USS Donner and USS Des Moines as a signalman sending critical, secret messages between ships using Morse code, lights and flags.
He surely wasn't perfect and made his share of mistakes, but in all my life with him I never saw him do anything to hurt another human being in any way, either physically, emotionally or financially. He never looked down at anyone for their station in life. He treated everyone with respect and would no sooner walk by a janitor or doorman without cheerfully saying hello than he would the president of the United States. He never once uttered a racial or ethnic slur and would have never tolerated that from us. He was a gentleman by definition because he was just that, a "gentle man."
I still live my life in a way that would make him proud of me and always will, but even if I live a hundred years, nothing I ever do or accomplish will make me prouder than simply being this man's son.
He was a kind, patient and gentle father who would always make time for his kids. He was involved (or at least interested) in everything we did. He was a sweet soul, incredibly funny and a talented artist, painter, carpenter and singer. Boy, could he SING!!
He was a Navy Korean War Veteran and served aboard three ships, including the USS Donner and USS Des Moines as a signalman sending critical, secret messages between ships using Morse code, lights and flags.
He surely wasn't perfect and made his share of mistakes, but in all my life with him I never saw him do anything to hurt another human being in any way, either physically, emotionally or financially. He never looked down at anyone for their station in life. He treated everyone with respect and would no sooner walk by a janitor or doorman without cheerfully saying hello than he would the president of the United States. He never once uttered a racial or ethnic slur and would have never tolerated that from us. He was a gentleman by definition because he was just that, a "gentle man."
I still live my life in a way that would make him proud of me and always will, but even if I live a hundred years, nothing I ever do or accomplish will make me prouder than simply being this man's son.
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