10/02/2026
On September 30th, at 12:24 pm, my life forever changed. My sweet Dad passed away, and it's been the most profound loss I've experienced in my 61 years. I've gone over and over in my head how I wanted to honor him and announce the sad news. I've even made notes about it, but I think I'm just going to do this from my heart. It's impossible to really say everything I'd like to, but first and foremost I was blessed to have such a wonderful Dad and I was blessed to have him on this earth until he made it to his 88th birthday a few weeks ago. He was not only a great Dad. He was a great granddaddy to two grandsons, my son, Jack, and my nephew, Sam. He loved my Mom for 62 years . My Dad has always been there for me, always calm and reassuring and encouraging. He was extremely smart and hard-working and loved and cared for his family until the end. My dad worked until he was 80 years old. He traveled for work and loved driving. His job would take him to the east and the south and I know that's where I got my love of travel and taking road trips. I still have all the maps that he drew for me when I was taking trip trips to Florida, including all the stops and where to get gas. I treasure them. My Dad took me to my first concerts, Shaun Cassidy and Donnie and Marie. My Dad encouraged my love of politics and patriotism. My Dad was heavily involved with my brother's sports and coaching. My love of ice cream comes from my Dad. I have his feet. And his work ethic. And my Dad loved repairing things with duct tape, even the bumper of his car😂. I could go on and on but I'm going to end with something that my great grandmother said in a note she left- she was my Dad's Grandmummy and they were very close. Florence Benedict was a very interesting intellect and left behind a lot of things that she wrote in books letters and papers. I absolutely loved this though........"To you all...love...carry on the torch of life which I helped to give to you. Carry it high."
