I originally wrote this blog about my dad in 2013. Thought it was a fitting tribute to republish on Father’s Day 2022. He is very much on my mind today.
Sadly, my father passed away this past year (2013). He was 84 and lived a full life. Many times, he commented to me that he couldn’t believe he lived this long. When he was a child, he told me, living to 65 seemed like a reasonable expectation. I am glad he beat his own expectations and gave us many more years to be with him. Dad came from a generation where you lived up to your responsibilities. He didn’t complain about it and believed that one of the most important things you could do was to teach your children to become independent adults. He didn’t coddle us, but also did not judge us too harshly. He was always there if needed.
Pop grew up an only child in the Bronx, NY and was raised by a stepfather at a time when this was unusual. His dad died when he was still very young. As a young boy, he spent a lot of time roaming the streets of New York City alone, which is hard for me to fathom as a father myself. As far as I can tell, he was given nothing, he had to earn it all himself. Dad ended up staying married to my mom for 63 years, had 7 kids and 18 grandchildren. He built (with his own hands) a log cabin on top of a mountain in rural upstate NY and that is where he retired, a retirement that lasted almost 30 years.
Besides being a loving grandfather, father, and husband, he was many things: an ex-marine (of which he was enormously proud), an educator, a carpenter, a travel agent, an avid reader, and a world traveler. He could talk to anyone about anything. He could also fix most broken things and solve any problem. The breadth of his skill, knowledge and experience never ceased to amaze me. To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, he was a true “self-reliant” man.
I am grateful for the many things he either gave or taught me including the following:
- The example of maintaining a lifelong commitment to your wife even when the road seemed rocky at times – he “got” mom and that was important to watch.
- The gift of my many siblings and the even bigger family this created.
- A strong work ethic and the importance of finishing what you started.
- Maintaining your personal ethics and values are an important part of life.
- A natural curiosity and love of reading and learning.
- A love of history and an abiding patriotism that only grows stronger with time.
- An appreciation and respect for other countries and cultures.
- A love of travel and joy in creating family adventures.
- A deep sense of pride in my own cultural heritage.
- Self-confidence to tackle any project if you put your mind to it.
- That pain is a part of life, and you need to learn to deal with it without becoming a burden on others.
- An ability and willingness not to judge others (especially your children) too harshly.
- Showing me that money is less important than your own happiness and a sense of self-fulfillment.
- The importance of being a parent who doesn’t micromanage or overly guide their children’s adult lives.
- The willingness to let your kids make their own mistakes as adults without criticism, but then being there to help pick up the pieces if necessary.
- A love of dogs and the special companionship this can offer.
- A special appreciation for Christmas (also his birthday) which is ingrained in our family.
The holidays are not the same without my dad around. All of us must take the journey of losing our parents and going on with our lives. While their physical presence no longer exists, their legacy naturally lives on in and through their children. I had a good dad who I believe genuinely did his best despite his own limitations and imperfections. You can’t ask for more than that…I am lucky to have known him and loved him.
Thanks Dad, we all miss you very much!
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