My Father, what can I say? Depending on what level you knew him, you might get many different descriptions. If you knew him through St Michaels' Parish, then you knew him as a deeply spiritual man, faithful to his religion. If you happen to be one of his golfing buddies, then you knew him as a perfectionist, always striving to lower his handicap. If you knew him as a Grandfather, you knew him as a man with a great sense of humor, never worrying if he sang off key, if he couldn't dance to the modern music, as long as he made his grandchildren laugh. If you knew him as a father in law, as my sister in law Dee put it so nicely, you knew him as a great teaser, but most importantly you knew him simply as Dad. If you knew him as a father, you knew him as a person who worked hard as a young man, trying to support you and your four siblings. Strict at times, but as he got older, enjoying his later years, a man who became a a gentler, kinder person who cherished his family. If you knew him as your Mothers new husband, he embraced you as his own, always making you feel welcome and part of the family. If you knew him as your husband, you knew him as a man who was faithful and loyal to his wife and extended family. A man that had a good heart, always trying to provide, always striving to make your life happy, healthy and most of all that you felt loved. I personally will miss alot about my Father. He instilled in me my passion for gardening and sports. Although in my recent years more of an arm chair quarterback then anything else. I remember always as a child my Dad carrying an AM radio around as he worked in the yard or garden tuned to the Boston Red Sox and even though I moved to New Jersey I never lost my passion for Boston sports teams. We would call each other once a month or chat on the computer. He always filling me in on the latest Boston sports happenings. In closing I would like to say no matter on what level you knew my Father, you knew him as a man of passion, kindness, great humor and love. For all that knew my Dad in each of us he carries on. From each of our memories is kept alive. On behalf of my brother Bob, my sisters Rosemary, Fran, Nancy and myself, we love you Dad and through all that knew you, you will live on.
S.M.V 6/26/01 |
