My father died on June 10, 2020. This was a strange time in the world as society adapted to all the changes brought about by the COVID pandemic, one of which being restrictions on large gatherings. Therefore, there was no funeral or memorial service. My Father's life and legacy were not recognized and honored in the way that he spent his life earning. I wish that everyone reading this could be here to offer their comfort and condolences to my Mom, which she deserves after spending a total of 57 years of her life together with my Dad. I know my Dad would have greatly appreciated and valued the presence of anyone who would have attended his service.
I actually started writing a eulogy the very next day after my Dad died as a way of processing all the thoughts about him that were flooding my mind. One thing I've learned while continuing to write this is that it is going to take a long time before living without my Dad gets any easier. If ever there was a person who embodied the concept of family, it was my Dad. I could write all day trying to describe the many ways he made my life and the life of everyone around him better. The dark cloud that I and my whole family now feel hanging over so many things that once brought us joy is indescribable. Everyone who knew him can surely understand the void his absence leaves in our lives because I'm sure you feel that same absence in your life, in your own personal way.
That being said, mourning is only part of dealing with the loss of my Dad. Knowing him, he would not want this to be a time of darkness and sadness. He would want his legacy of love and dedication to his family to be a shining light that guides us through this difficult time. It does bring me comfort to reflect on how brightly his light shone on so many people. He dedicated his life to helping people, be it through his career or in his personal life. His consistent pattern of putting others needs before his own is an inspiration and a model of how all people should strive to live their lives. I know he has inspired me to live my life trying to follow the example he set for me of what it means to be a good Father.
Not only was he a good Father, but he was also my best friend. While I am confident that he knew how much I love him and how much our relationship meant to me, I regret the fact that I don’t think I ever told him in those direct words, that he was my best friend. I may not have realized it in that perspective until it was already too late. I saw so many examples, all the time, of the kind of person he was, in different areas of his life, like pieces of a puzzle. Unfortunately, I never really saw all those pieces of the puzzle put together into such a beautiful image until I was reflecting back on his life, after his passing. You’ve heard the expression that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Sometimes we hear clichés over and over so many times, their meaning loses its intended impact. I’ve never felt a cliché to be more true than I do now. I can’t be the only one who feels that way, because he wasn’t just a model Father and best friend. He was also special to many people throughout his life in so many roles like grandfather, brother, son, nephew, uncle, friend, boss, colleague, counselor, and overall do-gooder who touched so many people’s lives in meaningful, positive ways.
That’s why I feel that he deserves so much more in terms of honoring his life than this COVID impacted world has allowed. That’s also why it means so much to my family and I that you took the time to visit this website, read this “eulogy” of sorts, and pay your respects to my Dad, an amazing man who lived an amazing life and will be loved and missed forever.