My dad died on April 5th, age 88. He lived life well, with partnership, passion, purpose, people, and love. He was funny, kind, generous and honest. He was a great parent to my brother and I and to my step siblings and our families. Dad never lectured or scolded. He served as a role model by living and doing good in the world. He made friends with everyone he encountered and he treated every person with respect and courtesy. My step brother commented that my dad had the widest and most diverse range of interests of any person he had known, for example he was a private pilot, loved boats and cars, woodworking, automotive repair and engines, electronics, opera, music and sports, he played penny poker once a week with his friends, he loved to eat out at new restaurants, he liked fairs and amusement parks, museums, travel, gardening, birds and animals, pets, my dad was always willing to learn about the world, and enjoy its offerings.
Sad news
Dad was an attorney. He went to one of the best law schools in the country and could have worked anywhere and done anything. He chose to serve those who needed him most. He had a family law practice in a city similar to that in which he was raised, diverse, with many working class and poverty stricken families in need of legal services. He would barter with people who could not pay if they had skills, or do things for free if needed. He also created jobs for people in trade for his services to help preserve their dignity. He had people raking leaves, shredding his files, changing the oil in his car, and he also had one person catalog his treasured collection of first edition science fiction books, which numbered over 6000 at the time of his death, etc. As a child I met all sorts of people and I’m certain it’s a large reason why I choose to work in a community position, and specifically with a population that would not otherwise be able to access my services, and not in a private practice.
Dressing well was important to my dad. He always looked nice. He wore suits and ties for work. He polished his shoes. He reserved jeans and flannel shirts or tees for weekends and outdoor work. He was tall, athletic and handsome with bright blue eyes and dark brown wavy hair. He had a treasured leather coat and it fit my husband so my stepmother gave it to him. It makes me happy to have it in our house and to know that a bit of my dad’s fashion is here in the closet.
I hope I honor his memory with the way I live my life.
