My Dad

Somewhere around the Galway Bay in Ireland with my dad.



Back in grade school, for an english class we had to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up. I don't remember much of grade school, but I do remember this for some reason. It seemed as if everyone else around me had the typical "Baseball player", "fire-fighter", "animal doctor" and "astronaut". My just said "I want to be a scientist like my dad". I of course was and still am terrible at anything having to do with science, but the fact remains true. I just wanted to, and still want to be like my dad. Most of who I am as a person can be credited to my dad, from my personality to my musical tastes. This post isn't about me though.

My dad was just a good guy. Everyone loved him. He was so smart. Therefore was able to knowledgeably discuss any topic, with anyone. He worked at Argonne National Lab as a physicist. There, he would chat with presumably some of the smartest minds in the world, but at the same time he would also chat with the janitors there. He didn't care who you were, everyone was his friend. He was just so positive about everything. He loved life. He loved his job, he loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved all of his hobbies. There wasn't a time when he wasn't having a good time.

Its just sad, because he had so much left. He wanted to travel. He talked of going back to Ireland. He just bought a huge telescope, it is still sitting in two shipping boxes in my garage. He was just far too young to go. He had all of these plans. He wasn't even ready to retire yet. Up to about a week before his passing, he was still working. His doctor and nurses were always surprised to hear that he was still working. He was just a strong guy. He didn't give up or give in.

On his last night here, he was in the living room, laying on a hospital bed. It was fairly obvious that he didn't have much left. He couldn't talk, and it was getting harder and harder for him to breathe. My grandmother, his mom arrived at O'hare airport from Pennsylvania at 6pm. It was around this time when my mom, brother, and I realized this was it. We sat at his side, holding him. My mom kept informing him of where his mom was at. My mom looked right at him and was informing him, "She just got on 55, should be here in an hour", "Your mom just got to 80, should be here in 10 minutes", "she just arrived, she will be here in a minute". Then my grandmother rushed downstairs and sat by his side. She said her words and then right after that he was gone. He waited for his mom to arrive. It was such a surreal moment. I couldn't even believe it.

Anyways, this is for you dad. You are my hero. I will never forget you and the things you did for me and the family. I know I am not the only person you have inspired. I love you.