Better For Having Known Him
Today, I want to take a moment to speak about a man whose presence is still deeply felt, even seven years after his passing—my father. He was more than just a son, a husband, and a father. He was a friend, a supporter, and a truly remarkable human being. When I think about him, I don’t just remember the sound of his laugh or the way he moved through life—I remember his heart. He had a rare kind of generosity—the kind that gives without expecting anything in return. Even when he had little, he would give. Whether it was his time, his energy, or a kind gesture, he always made people feel valued and cared for. My father had a deep passion for his work, especially when it came to cars. To many, it might have looked like a business, but to him, it was so much more—it was art. It was love. It was how he expressed himself. Some might have called him a “bad businessman” because he cared more about people than profit, but I think that made him even greater. He loved what he did, and he poured his soul into it. He wasn’t always the easiest person when it came to expressing emotion—but his love was never absent. It was there in his presence, in his sacrifices, in the way he showed up. He didn’t walk away from his family—he stayed. He worked hard. He gave everything he could to be the best father and husband he knew how to be. And in that, he succeeded. He loved deeply—his mother and father, his family, his children. He found joy in the little things, like watching reality TV, getting a pedicure, bowling, or just sleeping in on a quiet day. He had a simplicity about him, a way of enjoying life that reminded us what really matters. Though his time with us was far too short, his spirit continues to live on in the lives he touched and the family he leaves behind—three daughters who carry his strength and his love, and a granddaughter who will one day know how special her grandfather was. We miss him every day. But more than anything, we remember him—with love, with pride, and with gratitude. He was one of a kind, and we are better for having known him.
