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Fond Memories
This site is dedicated as a tribute to my father's memory. Although
during his lifetime he was called Stan, "Stash", and "Gay", he will
mostly be referred to as Dad throughout the site. My father, who was only
64 years old when he passed away in 1987, is still missed.
It's the little things that are missed the most - his smile, the
sound of his voice, his confident swagger entering a room, and even
his raised eyebrow when he wanted us to know that he disapproved
of something we said or did. As a young child growing up in
the1950s, the images I have of his right leg crossed over the bathroom
sink while combing his hair to get it "just right" or seeing that
pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes rolled up under his T-shirt sleeve
and thinking "what a cool Dad I have" are still fondly recalled.
Besides these images, and the many "lectures" he gave "to do as
I say and not as I do" still resonate in my ears as if they were
just given yesterday.
The Ritual --"Car - Spit and Polish - For Sale Sign - Car"
There are many other memories I have of Dad, but the one that always
seems to bring a broad smile every time I recall it occurred when
I became a teenage driver and Dad was the owner of a used car business.
Almost immediately after I got my driver's license, a bi-weekly
ritual began. In the span of about 48 months Dad "gave" me a total
of 63 different cars or trucks to drive. During that span of time
I had every car or truck imaginable--a Studebaker, Ford Crown Top
Victoria, Lincoln Convertible with a Continental Kit, Chevrolet,
Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Renault, and on and on. What's so funny
about having that many cars? Well, Dad told me every time that he
gave me a car that it was mine to keep, but without fail, after all the hours I spent to "spit and polish" a car, Dad would take
a good look at the car, and with a little chuckle, convince me that the
car "would sure look great on the lot". Yep! You guessed it.
A "For Sale" sign was put on the car immediately after those words
were spoken. Dad then would choose another car for me to call my
own and the ritual would begin anew. You'd think that I would learn
what he was up to after a couple of cars!! Somehow, as a teenager,
it really didn't matter to me what Dad was up to because I always
had a car to drive.
Values
Throughout his life Dad instilled in his three sons certain values that
remain with us today. He stressed the value of hard work, getting
an education, serving your country and doing your best in whatever
you do. Doing this he said would ensure your success in life and
make him a proud father.
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