He was excited when he got the job offer to work for an airline in Miami. He moved his wife and four kids from Ohio to take the job as a computer programmer back in the late 60s. I remember going to work with him as a child to see the huge rooms full of large computers that required significant air conditioning to function properly. He worked hard to support his family and plan for the future. He taught his kids to work hard, save money, and appreciate everything they had. He took lunch to work every day--"air sandwiches" and a thermos of Kool-Aid. We only had one car. As kids, we walked or rode our bikes everywhere. We never had a lot of fancy material possessions. We had something much more valuable--the unconditional love and support of our father. When we were young he would be laying on the floor and lift us up on his feet so we felt like we were flying through the air. When we were a little older he let us dance on his feet. We always knew he was there to support us and he would catch us if we fell.
He enjoyed the benefits of working for an airline and travelled as much as he could. He always encouraged the kids to travel. We took family vacations every year and often traveled back to Ohio to see our grandparents. He encouraged us to pursue our interests. He traveled with us to other countries we were interested in, encouraged us to go to college, and visited colleges we thought about attending. He often taught us about the logic of physics, and spent hours sitting in front of the television watching football on Sunday afternoons. He taught all of his kids how to responsibly invest and save money. He helped pay college expenses as much as he could but the majority of the responsibility was ours. He enjoyed bragging about his four kids in college. He taught us to be independent but we always knew that he would catch us if we fell.
He was a good husband. He cut the grass every week, trimmed the trees, made routine repairs on the house, and walked to the local Publix when my mother just needed a couple of things. He put up the hurricane shutters when the storms came too close, went shopping for a fresh Christmas tree every year, and hung the lights on the eaves. When his kids went off to college he traveled around the country to visit them. He was proud of the careers we started, the houses we bought, and the lives we built. He enjoyed helping us with home improvement projects, meeting our friends, pet-sitting, taking us out to our favorite restaurants, and traveling with us to our favorite destinations. When he retired he spent even more time visiting his daughters. He made us each feel like we were his favorite.
He was proud of his kids and the people they had become. He was not afraid to show us how important we were to him or to say “I love you.” He clearly enjoyed his life and his family. He had fun throughout his retirement and once told me “I don’t know when I had time to work!” He truly lived life to the fullest. During the last conversation I had with him I told him I had decided to change jobs after 27 years in the same job. I wasn’t sure what he would say. He asked me “Are you happy with the new job?” I told him I was and he said “It’s important to be happy.”
Sadly, the world’s most wonderful father passed away earlier this year. He was an inspiration to his family. He is missed every day, but the memories of the time we spent with him will last forever. He taught us the importance of pursuing our dreams and being happy. He had a tremendously positive impact on all of us. He gave us a strong foundation in life. He will always be a part of us. The lessons we learned from him will continue to support us and catch us if we fall.
