As I am mourning the loss of my Mother, I find myself remembering my Dad.
He was the jack of all trades.
My Grandmother, his Mother, who died a mere 8 months before he did, went and took him to join the Musician's Union at the tender age of 16.
Soon, he would be touring the country with the Tommy Dorsey band, playing clarinet.
He claims he took up smoking to appear older.
He was well read. In fact, he was constantly reading something. A newspaper, a book, a manual.
He lived a million lives.
He was always finding a new interest.
He bought cattle, and taught me grass fed Steer, were not the most tender. He loved photography, and educated me about Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier Bresson. He was a wood worker who studied dovetails, and showed me how to use a plane. He took up cello. He studied Opera and made me listen to arias. He was a sailor and introduced me to boating. Before he died he became immersed in cycling. He was a composer and orchestrator and arranger, and as such made me listen to a variety of music. He introduced me to a life long love for Japanese food.
Looking back I truly couldn't have asked for a better teacher, other than my Mom of course.
He was a true renaissance man.
When he died, I was tasked with writing his obituary.
It was then that I learned he had won multiple CLIOS, "Morning in America" for which he wrote the music, had been named as #43 on Advertising Ages top 100 ad campaign's ever. I unearthed that he also had been nominated for multiple Grammys. At one point he had written jingles for 3 commercials that were to air during the Super Bowl. He is responsible for many of the catchy advertising tunes we hummed back in the 80's. Think, "GE we bring good things to light" and Delta's "We love to fly and it shows."
Upon his death, Nancy Regan even wrote a personal letter to my Mom, thanking my Father for writing the music.
Recently, while going through his office, I found some of his vinyl's. It was then I discovered that he was one of the first to play a synthesizer in the late 60's, and had put out an album, Switched on Rock. Upon further research, I found out his music had been sampled by numerous rappers, as well as the Beastie Boys in, "Get it Together."
He never once mentioned this to me. I am realizing he didn't mention a lot of his many accomplishments.
In fact, he mentioned very few.
The simple guy who always wore boat shoes until they had a hole, the guy who taught me to love a matching pajama set, robe and slippers. The guy who ate ribs with a knife and fork so his fingers wouldn't get dirty. The guy who was the timer at every single one of my swim meets. The guy who always called me Mi Principessa. The guy who loved a good flannel shirt and a pair of worn in jeans. The guy who made me love White Castle and Indiana. The guy who was always learning something new, the guy who openly encouraged me to learn something new.
The guy who taught me Knowledge is Power.
He was so much bigger than I even knew.
The guy who always sang, "I love you, a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck."
The guy who taught me how to sail, how to fish, how to grill. The guy who taught me to have a firm handshake. The guy who introduced me to some of the best Jazz musicians in the world. The guy who made me love Classical.
The guy who taught himself how to play piano, so he could hear the melody and the harmony while he was writing music.
He was a gentleman.
He was humble, and quiet, and kind.
He was truly the king of Dad jokes.
He drove a minivan with purpose.
He was insanely smart.
He knew a little about a lot, and he knew a lot about a bunch.
My Dad.
So even though he is gone, you have left a legacy for my children.
A brilliant one at that.
Miss You, a bushel and a peck.
Xoxo,
C.
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