My Dad was an interesting guy, and they broke the mold when they made him. You never had to wonder what he was thinking, because he would certainly let you know. If he was your friend, he would give you the shirt off his back. Cross his sensibilities, and he’d let you know that too. What I remember most is the constant stream of stories he would tell that would make many folks laugh, sometimes until they cried, myself included. You always knew where he was, because he was usually the loudest guy in the room. He had nicknames for everybody, and a joke for everyone, even if he tended to repeat a few. He went out of his way to explain when we were growing up that what you did and how you did it was more important than what you said. His love of sports trickled down to my siblings and I, and I fully appreciate that playing sports helped me build skills for life outside of sports as well. My father wasn’t perfect, and he never claimed to be. But he was always Tod. He was proud of his Polish heritage and his military service, something we had in common. He loved his family, and his friends (both old and new), some of which he had since childhood. He died peacefully after a long illness just a few hours after we had visited him, and going peacefully is what he would have wanted. He leaves behind a quiet void where his laughter used to be. But hopefully, some of what was good about him will carry on in all of us that knew and loved him. There will be a get together in his honor this summer, when those who choose to can be in the same space without worrying about the health risks we have been dealing with for the past year. But what he really wanted most is for us to have a chance to have a few drinks, swap some stories, laugh and smile while remembering him. And who wouldn’t want that? We look forward to seeing you all then. See you on the other side Dad.
