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The Last Father’s Day We Shared

Today marks ten years since the last Father’s Day I celebrated with my dad. It wasn’t even on the actual day—I had visited him in Minden, Nevada, and left days before. His health had been declining for a few years, but his characteristic determination, love of life, and desire to be present never wavered. Pulling his oxygen tank around the casino where there was shrimp cocktail that “your mom really enjoys”, we dined out for what was to be our last celebration of him. He passed away less than a year later. I continue to work on preserving his legacy of love.

A Legacy of Laughter and Love

Dad was never shy about expressing his love. He was a softy—tears came easily, whether from something sad, something joyful, or even a touching commercial. And he loved to tease.

Growing up, I quickly learned that if I wanted a serious answer, I’d better ask Mom. If Dad answered first, I’d glance her way to confirm. It became a family pattern—one that my own children recognized in their dad, their uncles, and even our close family friends. Dads were the jokesters; moms had the real answers. That was how it was… wasn’t it?

The Protector: A Story That Still Brings Tears

One story sticks with me, especially around Father’s Day. When I was sixteen, I moved to Philadelphia to begin a ballet career. Late one night during a phone call with my parents, I opened the third-floor deck door to cool off—and saw a man climbing over the railing.

I screamed. He yelled something back and jumped down. Still holding the phone, I told my parents what had happened. While I called the police, they kept trying to reach me. With every busy signal, their anxiety grew. My father began pulling his pants on over his pajamas.

“I’m driving to Philadelphia!” he declared. He would have done it, too, without a second thought. Thankfully, I picked up on the next call. But the image of him in those frantic, helpless moments still brings tears to my eyes. His love was fierce, and immediate.

Grandpa and the Ice Cream Truck

Dad showed his love through food—especially sweets. One summer, when our youngest daughter was three, she heard an ice cream truck and shouted, “ICE CREAM! Grandpa’s going to be SO HAPPY!”

After my parents passed, we divided their belongings. The candy jar, nearly always filled with Jelly Bellies, was the most coveted item among the grandchildren. They all remembered him slipping them a handful and whispering, “Don’t tell your mother!”—usually right before dinner.

The Legacy Continues Through Generations

They say daughters often marry men like their fathers. I’m proud to say that’s true in many ways for me—and for my sisters. Now, watching our daughter and her husband parent their baby son, I see echoes of those same loving, goofy, strong qualities in a new generation.

Why These Memories Matter

Grandpa lived eight hours away, but his sweet tooth—and his presence—were deeply etched in her heart.

I miss my dad every day. But his legacy lives on—through stories, through laughter, through tiny moments and big ones, passed on to children and grandchildren. That’s the gift he left us.

How You Can Keep Your Loved Ones’ Stories Alive

It’s up to us to keep those memories alive.

Have you recorded your favorite memories of your father—or a father figure? Will your children or grandchildren know who he was to you? What made him unique? What made him him?

Stories and photographs, collected, preserved, and shared, are how we carry our loved ones forward. This Father’s Day, I encourage you to write down a favorite story. Scan an old photo. Label the people in it. Share a memory out loud.

This is how we keep them with us.

💬 Need help gathering or preserving your own family’s stories? Reach out—I’d love to help you keep their memories safe for the next generation.
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