In spite of all the negative things my dad experienced in life and problems with his health, he never complained and I mean he NEVER complained. He was always logical and practical. He never harbored hate and anger for the experiences he suffered through in his life. His philosphy was you worked hard for everything you had and work came before fun. You took care of your needs before your wants(everyone today could take a lesson from that). He always taught me that if you want something in this life you will work for it cause no one was going to hand it to you(another lesson for the masses). He also taught me that you take care of what you can and don't worry about the things you can't control, plan for the future and make the most of what you have and don't worry about what others have. In recent years his go to comment was "it is was it is and will be what it will be". Always the Mr spock of life.

Because of my dad I grew up understanding the value of hard work and what was really important in life. He also taught me the value of love. My parents met when they were just teenagers and married as teenagers. The odds were against them and yet they were married for 57 years. Quite impressive considering some of the hard times they went through that would break up most marriages today because marriage is not looked at the same way as it was then. I learned from both of them the value of marriage and the hard work and dedication it takes to keep a marriage strong no matter what comes your way. 

It sounds like there was alot of working and no fun but not true. We made a point of fitting in the fun around the work. Something I embraced as an adult and have hopefully taught my children. There are many things we did which included the beach, the lake, amusement parks and a trip to williamsburg etc. My dad loved music and use to play the guitar. He also liked to sing along with his favorite songs. Now i know where I got that from. He loved to joke around and play board games and wrestle around with my cousins and I. And he did all those things with his grandkids. But my most favorite thing was  bike rides with my dad. He never had good eyesight so did not drive and I am amazed thinking back on that how special those bike rides were. We would literally ride for miles. We would be in dirrerent towns and there were no cell phones to tell my mom where we were. Besides the pure joy of spending that time with my dad, I would like to think it gave him a sense of freedom that he didn't always have due to his eyesight. I could continue to write but will end with this. I love you dad. You were the best dad and person ever and I hope you are free now of all pain and i able to look down and see us with restored sight. Be at peace.

He had a wonderful sense of humor and he liked to have fun. He was the champion of hide and seek (despite being blind), he would play Atari with me and my siblings, he would go swimming with us, he would give us piggy back rides, he let us crank up the surround sound in his living room until it shook the windows. I've got so many good memories of the time I spent with him, too many to even list.

There are also so many little things that remind me of him, the smell of coffee, lima beans, Home Alone, Homeward Bound, cheesesteaks, hoagies, spiced wafer cookies, plaid flannel shirts, The Price is Right, the sound of an electric shaver, trips to Disney, etc...

He was a wonderful grandfather and while I miss him terribly already, I am grateful to have had in my life as long as I did.