Tuesday, July 23, 2013
One of the most memorable recent memories was going with Dad and Patty and Snoopy to the free meal at The Golden Corral Restaurant in Twin Falls in 2011 shortly after Veterans Day. Some of the pictures of him in his VFW hat show a happy guy and he was definitely in his element with all those former soldiers and sailors! He loved hanging with the Veterans and I know there were many here in Twin Falls that he enjoyed associating with. He loved history and was involved in politics in one form or another for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is of going with him and my mother to a Goldwater rally at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park in front of the replica of Independence Hall there. It was probably 1962 and I would have only been 8 years old then. We sat on the lawn and somehow I was in awe of what Independence Hall stood for at that young age. Needless to say, he was fiercely anti-communist and we worried about the Soviet Union’s effort to gain world domination or of the possibility of nuclear war. That was a heavy cloud in our household and I remember being very afraid of the possibility of either a nuclear war or of being under the domination of the Soviets from a young age. Dad had 9 children in a matter of about 15 years. This was in line with his adopted Catholic faith and he did what he believed was right at that time. I never heard him regret that although he did make a few jokes about the "rhythm method" (which I will not post here). Trying to provide for this many mouths was difficult in better economic times and we went through a long period of struggle in the family. I know he felt bad about the difficult times and he felt he had to apologize to me a few times that I recall about how things were growing up. It wasn’t always pretty, but I think he and my mother instilled good values in all of us, and I am thankful especially, for having passed their faith and love of country along to us. We were taught right and wrong and even though we may not always have lived out those values very well, we at least knew what was right and wrong. We always had lively discussions of religion, culture, politics, the arts and life in general in the home. I can’t say I always saw eye to eye with my father on some of his political views as I grew older, but I know they stemmed from his deep love of country and pride in both his family’s and country’s heritage. We were from different generations and he saw everything in a much more black and white version of the world than I later did. Losing Dad was bittersweet for me. I am happy he went peacefully, quickly and without too much discomfort. He seemed to keep his positive attitude when facing his own death, and from what I know of how he passed, I am proud of him and hope I can face those final moments with the courage and apparent good nature that he seemingly faced it with. I was fortunate enough to see him 3 times over the last year or so. I am proud of him and what he accomplished. As my brother Steve put it recently, he wasn't always the father I wanted, but he was my father and gave me a lot - maybe not materially, but as far as values and lessons I think he gave me what was right and good and true. He was always a hard worker. He went to one of the best engineering schools in the country and received a degree in chemical engineering and accomplished many professional degrees in his profession in insurance and financial planning. He finished college and high school each in three years. After college, he worked for McDonald Aircraft and Haveg Chemical Corporation until he started his own chemical engineering business manufacturing fiberglass products in the 60s in La Habra. It was shortly after this that he tried a career in insurance, which he persisted in until he became fairly successful at in the 90s - after I had moved away from Ventura. I suppose his passing has not fully hit me at the time of this writing. My perception of him has changed in recent years, and in one's passing, it changes further. He was my father, and I will miss him but am confident
