My dad passed away from cancer in 1982. He was 6'4" and 240 lbs. A big man with a big heart. He was honest as the day is long. He believed in God and went to church. He volunteered his time in the community. He was a Lion, he helped the boy scouts, he worked in politics. When he entered a room all attention turned to him. He was free with his emotions, letting his friends and family know that he loved them. It was always a good time when he was around. He wrote the book on Play Hard -- Work Hard. I remember some party nights where he could consume almost an entire bottle of Early Times, but then be up with the birds to milk 2 or 10 cows he had at the time, and go on from that to his "real" job! He had cows as a hobby, heifers till they freshened. Sometimes keeping a favorite for a year or so more. He started with Guernsey's, then at the end had Jersey's. I remember the milk, it was delicious. For my oldest daughters first birthday I made homemade ice cream from Daddy's cows' milk. My dad was a self made man, he left school at 16, joined the Merchant Marines during WWII, and came back home to marry my mom and start his own business. First he sold Packards, then he moved on to open a fuel oil company, delivering fuel oil and doing oil burner repairs. Guess he didn't like being slow during the summer so he started a swimming pool maintenance company! He finally pretty much walked away from the fuel oil business when the union tried to come in... Daddy was not happy about that!

He ran for, and won, a seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Pretty cool considering he never finished high school!

Growing up, there were 7 kids on the street where we lived, and in our early teens Dad would take us all sleigh riding in the winter. We'd pile into the back of his pick up truck with our sleds and flying saucers, surrounded by some bales of hay to help keep us out of the wind, and up the road we'd go in the back of the truck, heading for our favorite sledding spot! In the summertime he'd take us all camping in Connecticut for a long weekend. We all thought that was the best! The first year we went camping he borrowed the local boy scout tents, you know those heavy canvas things with no flooring, just army cots on dirt! But we were thrilled. We always had a campfire, talked, sometimes played a guitar and sang, and cooked marshmallows and hot dogs on the fire.

Daddy was very proud of his English heritage. His father (my grandfather) was in line for the family title in England and a seat in the House of Lords, but in order to attain that he was required to go to Eaton and all the "right" schools, etc. Well seems Grandfather liked wine women and song more, and was finally disinherited. He took a "tramp" steamer to America. The Salvation Army rescued him off a park bench (so the family story goes), he married my grandmother, and had 3 sons, my dad being the youngest. They were all poor as church mice, but must have had a great childhood because I could write a book with all the memories and hijinks that my dad shared with me from his childhood!

I loved my Daddy, when he was going through his cancer treatments I remember saying to my ex "I can't imagine life without my father..." I really thought I'd die when he died. Well of course I didn't, but it was the saddest day of my life when he passed.
But he left me with a great foundation for my own life. I have his strength, his love of life, his humor and zest, and I owe everything I am today to my upbringing and his example. Daddy I know you're watching me write this; I love you.