Fathers Day 2024

What would you say is the most important thing that your father taught you?“…my father was pretty quiet and led by good example.” — Nancy Myers

“…charity.” — Jenny Hagar

“…when I was trying to make an important decision my father would ask me questions that would help me.”– Ted Buenger

“…I could never do justice in describing all the things my father taught me.” — Edna Grad

“…my father taught me was to look both ways before crossing the street – that saved my life in London years later.”

“…the most important thing my father taught me is to reject a bent board.” — Norm Ewald

“…my father taught me how to ‘tinker.’ To be vigilant and to tease things apart. When you know how to tinker you can solve any problem whether it’s writing a good essay, trying to find where there is a shared neutral wire or how to achieve the elusive Double C on the trumpet. — Marshal MacDonald

“…never give up.” — Scott Pemberton

“…I’ve never forgotten my dad’s four-word sex advice, which I’ve used to advantage in other contexts, too: “Don’t do anything stupid.” — Greg Taubeneck

“…resolve your problems, find a solution, the problem will be solved; and I’ll have your back.” — Will Butzlaff

“…coming from a family of immigrants, my father played football to escape from having to work in the coal mines. For him, everything was a struggle. As his daughter, I learned (or just inherited) a certain fierceness and determination.” — Anna Nardo

“…distilling it all down, the most memorable message I got from my father is, ‘Stand up for yourself. Don’t let anybody push you around.’” — Jim Thompson

“…while academic success eluded him, my father was blessed with a wickedly good sense of humor. He had a special talent to make everyone around him laugh with him. The best lesson that we learned from our fathers? The answer for me was immediately obvious – a sense of humor.”
 — Kevin Evanich

“…I learned about speaking with children like they’re people and being honest with them.”

“…my dad taught me people are almost always focused on their own lives. They are not thinking about YOU or anything you may have done to offend them. It’s best to reserve judgement when you feel slighted or neglected…they are in their own reality and are not trying to attack you!” – Paul Rathburn

“…he told my sisters and me to keep moving.  He was talking about physical health and well being, that the only way to mitigate some of the inevitable age-related declines was to use your muscles consistently and as best you could. – Sherri Smith

“…my father was a really kind and gentle guy. When we became adults (speaking for my 4 siblings as well), he was our best friend. He passed too soon at 68, and I think of him almost every day.” – Brian Brady

“…the most important thing my father taught me was the importance of sports. He literally taught me how to play baseball, basketball and golf.” – Ron Condon

“…my father’s teaching was ordinarily more example than dictation. A man told me about the time he and my father were members of the same Loop insurance agency.  A significant, very lucrative piece of business came my father’s way.  However, the opportunity had questionable aspects. ‘Your dad turned it down flat,’ the man said.” – Tom Figel

“……he was a Chicken Delight franchisee, and when the parent company went bankrupt, he lost everything. Many of his fellow franchisees declared bankruptcy. Not my Dad. Call him a sucker, but he sacrificed (and so did we) so he could pay back everything he owed. After that, my smart, cerebral Dad took a series of menial jobs to pay the bills. Because ‘no work is beneath you if it pays the bills.’ I was so proud of him.” – Chris Haxagar

“…I have fond memories of when my Dad taught me to sing and play “Tiny Bubbles” by Don Ho on the ukelele. I was no more than 6 or 7. Funny thing, my son never met him but he also enjoys playing the ukelele. I still have 
Dad’s uke!” – Janet Trierweiler

“…quit trying to have the last word!” – Mary Heneby

“…my father had tattoos on both of his arms. When l was 16 he told me never to do what he had done. I answered “No problem.” and I went along with him. l’ve never regretted my decision.” – Eric Blount

“…the best thing my father taught me was how to love a child! There isn’t even a close second best.” – Neil Lukatch

“…the best piece of advice I ever got was from a long-time friend of my father a few years after his untimely death. He told me if I’m ever really pissed off at someone, to write that person a letter (email today) and sleep on it before sending. I would hope that, having ever had the chance to converse with my Father, he would have advised me to: Be myself, try to do well and above all else, have a sense of humor. ” – Jerry Malsh

“…for most of his working life, my father drove a Greyhound Bus. As a child, I sometimes got to go along. I learned that people respond to being treated with respect and dignity… and that working in the service of others is an honorable way to make a living.” – Patrick Koeller

“…education. Always remember and respect our family name. Always be early, never late (this applied to our evening meal and to any business meeting)”. – George Brigandi

“…my father gave me very little advice, but always took the time to listen to me and was skillful at reading between the lines of my conversations with him. He was helping me to trust my own inner guidance.” – Steve Starr

“… father was big on honesty. He used to say being honest is like being a ‘little bit pregnant.’ Either you are or you’re not.” – Brian Cox

“…what we do is much more significant and lasting than what we say. It is not so much the specific lessons and habits that my father taught me that have stayed with me, but the example of how he lived his life and demonstrated his values and beliefs through everyday actions.” – Bill Lampke

“…I lost my father in 1981. Since my folks were holocaust survivors we were very close. When he died I took it extremely hard and lost quite a lot of weight and asked why did he had to die before he saw see either of his children marry. I just finished Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning.” His mantra is “compromise” which I try to live by.” – Rami Hagari

“…my father was a physician, a devout Catholic, and a very witty man. He had a great admonition. “Never argue with a fool, because after a while, spectators can’t tell the difference!” – Jim O’Neill

“…he was an attorney and loved his work. He believed in responsibly caring for his family in the toughest times of the great depression. He took pride in what was his and worked diligently to keep them well-cared for.” – Harry Wilson

“…my dad gave me an early appreciation for science. We took numerous trips to the museums and used a small telescope to look at the planets. I have a fond memory of us building paper maché solar systems.” – Neal Solomon

“…my dad expressed love by setting examples. I watched him set his own responsibilities and meet them. Sure, his family was most important, but paying the monthly mortgage was also his top priority.” – Chris Walker

“…my father told me: The purpose of life is to have a positive effect in those who are in one’s life. And, seemly impossible goals can be achieved through perseverance and patience.” – Ed Wang

“…quit trying to have the last word!” – Mary Heneby