Twenty-eight years ago today, my dad passed away at the age of 87. My brothers, sisters and I have thought about him pretty much every day since. This year feels special. Perhaps it is because I have aged, my children are now parents, and everyday life feels extraordinarily precious. I want to thank my dad for always treating me as his own flesh and blood. He was loving and supportive through his entire lifetime. He understood me, or tried to understand me, even when I could not understand myself. He forgave my mistakes; never criticized me as a person; was there for me when I needed him most; and incredibly, never raised his voice at me even once in his entire lifetime.
Perhaps most importantly, when he married my mom, he took me and my brother into his family and gave all of his five children and his wife a wonderful life. Home was always a safe place, a refuge when any of us were going through stormy times. It could not have been easy. Five children growing up in the 60's and 70's.
And through all of this he managed to be an extraordinary role model. Above all else, dad stood for integrity — both personally and professionally. He was admired and respected by everyone who met him and deeply loved by his family.
To quote what I said in my eulogy, 28 years ago: "With Dad's passing, the death of our hero, the world has changed forever. Whatever our accomplishments big or small, whatever the world achieves for itself, the sun will never shine as brightly as when Dad walked the face of the earth."