Here are a few pictures of Grandad with L&A. Dad wasn't that in to having his picture taken so, unfortunately, there are not a lot of him with the girls.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Words of Remembrance
Here is the eulogy I gave at my dad's memorial service.
Good morning. I am Julie ___________, John’s youngest daughter. Thank you all so much for joining my family in celebrating my dad’s life.
I think generally most people’s first impression of Dad was probably that he was a quiet, reserved man. And it was true. But behind that subdued exterior, was a man of great talent and passion. He was incredibly intelligent, athletic, a wonderful piano player, an avid sailor, a gardener, so many, many things. He threw himself 100% into whatever he was enthusiastic about.
And while Dad was quiet & reserved, with that came a person who gave generously of his time and talent to help others without thought of recognition for himself. Over the years, Dad has spent many weekends volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Friday mornings delivering food to shelters and other needy situations as a Fair Share Table volunteer and participating in a number of local community projects.
In addition to being a well-respected attorney, Dad was also the quintessential jack of all trades. A “Mr. Fix It”. Plumber, electrician, carpenter, auto mechanic, painter, ceramic tile installer, you name it. Growing up, I thought this is what all dads could do and didn’t realize that you could hire people to do the sort of projects my dad was able to do. Where other people collected some sort of memorabilia, Dad collected tools, of every size and variety. I once was kidding with him and told him that when he retired he should get a job at Home Depot because he loved that stuff so much. I actually got a grin out of him at the suggestion.
Dad also had a life-long love of gardening. Those lucky enough to have gotten some will know that his tomatoes were one of the highlights of every summer. And when ever I had a house plant that was not doing well, off it went to my parents’ where I knew it would be nursed back to health by my Dad.
As you can see, Dad could do whatever he put his mind to, well, with one distinct exception: dance. Despite his musical and athletic abilities, he surprisingly had two left feet when it came to dancing.
I am the youngest of six daughters so I suppose that it was inevitable that I might be assigned the role of the son he never had. Over the years, he had enlisted my help for countless home and boat projects. And while I sometimes begrudgingly worked on them, I am so grateful for what I learned from working along side Dad and the independence he instilled in me and just wish there had been time to learn more.
But what will always stand out most for me and probably most of us who know and love him, was his great passion for sailing. It was a year-round devotion: Sailing his boat in the summer; working on the boat in the winter and early spring to get ready for the next sailing season. And to hold him over, wonderful sailing cruises in such exotic places as the Caribbean and Tahiti. Now more than ever whenever I see a sailboat or look out on the water and notice that the wind is just right for a brisk sail, I will think of my dad.
I would like to end with a poem that I think my dad would have known or liked.
"Sea-Fever" by John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
Good morning. I am Julie ___________, John’s youngest daughter. Thank you all so much for joining my family in celebrating my dad’s life.
I think generally most people’s first impression of Dad was probably that he was a quiet, reserved man. And it was true. But behind that subdued exterior, was a man of great talent and passion. He was incredibly intelligent, athletic, a wonderful piano player, an avid sailor, a gardener, so many, many things. He threw himself 100% into whatever he was enthusiastic about.
And while Dad was quiet & reserved, with that came a person who gave generously of his time and talent to help others without thought of recognition for himself. Over the years, Dad has spent many weekends volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Friday mornings delivering food to shelters and other needy situations as a Fair Share Table volunteer and participating in a number of local community projects.
In addition to being a well-respected attorney, Dad was also the quintessential jack of all trades. A “Mr. Fix It”. Plumber, electrician, carpenter, auto mechanic, painter, ceramic tile installer, you name it. Growing up, I thought this is what all dads could do and didn’t realize that you could hire people to do the sort of projects my dad was able to do. Where other people collected some sort of memorabilia, Dad collected tools, of every size and variety. I once was kidding with him and told him that when he retired he should get a job at Home Depot because he loved that stuff so much. I actually got a grin out of him at the suggestion.
Dad also had a life-long love of gardening. Those lucky enough to have gotten some will know that his tomatoes were one of the highlights of every summer. And when ever I had a house plant that was not doing well, off it went to my parents’ where I knew it would be nursed back to health by my Dad.
As you can see, Dad could do whatever he put his mind to, well, with one distinct exception: dance. Despite his musical and athletic abilities, he surprisingly had two left feet when it came to dancing.
I am the youngest of six daughters so I suppose that it was inevitable that I might be assigned the role of the son he never had. Over the years, he had enlisted my help for countless home and boat projects. And while I sometimes begrudgingly worked on them, I am so grateful for what I learned from working along side Dad and the independence he instilled in me and just wish there had been time to learn more.
But what will always stand out most for me and probably most of us who know and love him, was his great passion for sailing. It was a year-round devotion: Sailing his boat in the summer; working on the boat in the winter and early spring to get ready for the next sailing season. And to hold him over, wonderful sailing cruises in such exotic places as the Caribbean and Tahiti. Now more than ever whenever I see a sailboat or look out on the water and notice that the wind is just right for a brisk sail, I will think of my dad.
I would like to end with a poem that I think my dad would have known or liked.
"Sea-Fever" by John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
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