As I recall my dad was dedicated to his wife and us children.
In his own way he would always put us first.
He had a great sense of humour that I feel he passed on to myself (the one liner) as well as my brother Dave (the story teller).
Sadly his troubled life resulted in addictions
to alcohol and cigarettes. After several heart attacks, including open heart surgery, those addictions took his life in 1982 at a young age of only 56. Here are a few photographic images of the man I call my father.
One of my memories from 1968-70 was when dad and Uncle Rolie were driving and turned onto Toronto's lower Gardiner Expressway. An ambulance coming in the other direction slowed down to warn us that we were going in the wrong direction. I'm not sure if dad was drinking during this trip but if it wasn't for that ambulance driver, the persons in that car, including myself, may not be here today. Dad's response was "Oh, no". He quickly turned around. Thanks, Dad!
In 1971 on Bright St., Toronto, while working for Glen Cedar Farms and driving a Mack Truck (dad's pride and joy) dad asked me to paint his rig's wheel rims. As a young artist I was proud to do this and dad was so proud of me too. I recall also drawing a picture of that rig. Someone in this world has that drawing and I want it back!
In the late 70's my brother Dave, while visiting Northern Ontario went fishing with dad and I. Don't even ask me the name of that lake but is was a cold, late August morning. The highlight of that fishing trip was when a seagull landed on Dave's back. Where was my camera?
Just a couple of dads favourite expressions;
Take a suck of my runny nose;
I feel for you but I can't reach you;
Stupid D. P. (dumb prick)