I would like to say a few words about an amazing man (my Dad) who passed away this past weekend at the age of 90. As most people know I dont normally use facebook especially for family and personal issues so I debated with myself the past couple days on whether I would post something so deeply personal, but decided to write some brief thoughts as not only a tribute to my dad but as a sort of therapy for me I guess. Even though he was 90 and this was expected for several months, it does not make the sorrow, pain or hurt any less. You see my dad was one of the greatest dads a son could ask. He was my biggest hero and the best man I ever knew, but most importantly he was MY DAD. He was one of the hardest working people I ever meet. He was always there to help if you needed him. He was a very generous, caring and honest person. He was always willing to help friends and family especially with their concrete projects. He was my inspiration and my role model growing up. The strength he showed and the love for his family is something I will never forget. If it wasnt for him (as well as my mother) I dont think I would have found such good direction in life. I couldnt have come this far in life without his support and love. I will miss everything about him. I will miss his simplicity for life as well as his honesty and integrity. I will miss most his laugh and smile (one that unfortunately I did not see as often as I would have liked the past year or so). But in putting together some pictures for the DVD tribute for the funeral service I had the opportunity to see that special face and smile again and the laughter he experienced and brought to us all in many of the pictures. This is how I want to remember him. I will also remember how hard he worked trying to make things easy for our family as we grew up. Always holding down two jobs and picking up side (mason) work whenever possible in order to provide that special birthday or Christmas gift or take that special family vacation. This of course was in addition to the main full-time job of taking care of the family. Integrity and family meant everything to him. I remember the time when I was very young and he took me to one of my first professional NFL football games. The Giants were playing the Colts at Yankee Stadium and a scalper on the streets outside the stadium approached my dad and offered him what was probably 10 times what the face value of the tickets were worth (money Im sure he could have used). But my father just looked at the scalper and with a smile declined respectively and said Im here to take my son to the game. I will never forget that since it pretty much defined the man he was but probably the highest compliment of my dad came from my grandmother (my fathers mother-in-law). She always told me and my sisters (as well as many others) that God broke the mold after he made your father. A comment that my grandfather openly echoed. They respected and admired him and all he did for them as well as my mother and us that much. My dad loved to play and watch sports but most of all loved to play poker (actually all card games). He passed these passions on to me. I think thats why Im such a good poker player (haha). I had to get some levity in here. In reflection there are so many wonderful times to remember, but what stands out in my mind is how much he loved his family and me, and how much we all loved him. Since I lived out of state from my Dad, I did not always get to see him as much as I would have liked the last few years. But I think back and I am very grateful that I was at least given the opportunity to retire from work last May which allowed me to spend very valuable and quality time with him the past 6 months. Time I would have not had if I continued working. This is something I would not have traded for anything in the world. But the last couple of weeks were very hard on him as well as the family. His heart was weak and getting worse and he knew it. I think we all knew it and that the end was near. The past few days have been very sad for me, the first of many days without my father. A special dad is hard to find. I wished he could have stayed around forever, but that would be selfish and time moves on. But I know he will still be around us in spirit because I see a lot of his characteristics in my own children. I miss him so much; he was everything to me. I will never forget him, especially the smile on his face. The memories will never leave me; the laughter the joy the good and the bad. So in closing my hero has passed on and my dad now leaves his childrens families to carry on his legacy. I will never forget you dad, NOT ever since you will always remain in my heart. So in essence you really havent really left me since I will think of you every day of every year. I love you very much. You filled a space in my life that no one will ever replace. Please RIP with Mom and Rosemary until we all meet again. Thanks again for all you did. You did a GREAT JOB!!!
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 23:04:26 +0000
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