Please share your memories of Richard (Dick) / Grandpa in the comments.
7 Comments
Guest
Nov 18, 2022
A Poem for GrandpaA white egret tiptoes along the calm of the warm, salty Gulf waters. Here, we trudge happily, across thick, manicured grass, to climb the citrus trees, squeezing limes and oranges into tart juice. We seal memories into the cuts from razor-sharp barnacles. Laughter echoes under low ceilings and stretches across the finger. Papayas in brown paper bags. What a gift, to grow up this way. Steady like the Gulf, Grandpa’s main gift to us was unconditional love. He was an anchor for our family, challenging us not to squander a life saturated with acceptance. He guided us by example, a demure compass that always pointed to home, to family. Come along, son. These nautical analogies…
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Guest
Nov 13, 2022
I am the most fortunate to have gotten to know Grandpa and grow so close in the last 7 months of his life. I was there under the pretense of helping to care for Grandpa, but I’ve since realized that he’s taught me more about life and love than I knew possible. He constantly verbalized his appreciation and love for me. Grandpa worried for me, laughed with me, teased me, and always expressed his gratitude for our relationship. Grandpa just being Grandpa taught me how to receive love and I will be eternally grateful for his enormous presence in my life.
- that gal who would do anything for you
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Guest
Nov 12, 2022
I absolutely loved my Uncle Dick since I was a small child. I stayed the night with Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick when I was around 10 years of age. He was so funny and I enjoyed my 3 little cousins Richie, Ronnie and Roy. We played and I felt so special while I was there. I noticed at a very early age that he was a devoed dad and husband. He had such a great sense of humor and always making me laugh. He got into photography and always had a camera in my face. He developed and printed the photos and always gave me copies. We spent New Years Eve with Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick a…
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Guest
Nov 12, 2022
I wanted to share a memory, but a memory is something recalled from the past, and Grandpa's spirit is very much alive for me. My present is imbued with so many small moments of past generosity, acceptance, and appreciation from my grandfather. My childhood was made more colorful by our frequent visits to Treasure Island, where Nanny and Grandpa treated us like we were literal gifts. But some of my favorite moments with Grandpa occurred in my adulthood, when he and I developed a real friendship. In Washington, we drank together at the home bar of one of his oldest friends; in Las Vegas, we devised the most risk averse way to play the slots; at the Petrified Forest, h…
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Guest
Nov 11, 2022
I was lucky enough to know Dick and Lou through AFA. Dick was the most modest, kind man. He could tell the most fascinating stories in the quietest way. When I served with him on the AFA Board, he was such a teacher and mentor. It was through his efforts that AFA is still here and the successful school it is. He always gave others credit for that but it was his hard work and perseverance that made it happen. Our trips to the northern campus were always an adventure! It was a privilege to call him my friend. He will be missed. Claudia Sokolowski
A Poem for Grandpa A white egret tiptoes along the calm of the warm, salty Gulf waters. Here, we trudge happily, across thick, manicured grass, to climb the citrus trees, squeezing limes and oranges into tart juice. We seal memories into the cuts from razor-sharp barnacles. Laughter echoes under low ceilings and stretches across the finger. Papayas in brown paper bags. What a gift, to grow up this way. Steady like the Gulf, Grandpa’s main gift to us was unconditional love. He was an anchor for our family, challenging us not to squander a life saturated with acceptance. He guided us by example, a demure compass that always pointed to home, to family. Come along, son. These nautical analogies…
I am the most fortunate to have gotten to know Grandpa and grow so close in the last 7 months of his life. I was there under the pretense of helping to care for Grandpa, but I’ve since realized that he’s taught me more about life and love than I knew possible. He constantly verbalized his appreciation and love for me. Grandpa worried for me, laughed with me, teased me, and always expressed his gratitude for our relationship. Grandpa just being Grandpa taught me how to receive love and I will be eternally grateful for his enormous presence in my life.
- that gal who would do anything for you
I absolutely loved my Uncle Dick since I was a small child. I stayed the night with Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick when I was around 10 years of age. He was so funny and I enjoyed my 3 little cousins Richie, Ronnie and Roy. We played and I felt so special while I was there. I noticed at a very early age that he was a devoed dad and husband. He had such a great sense of humor and always making me laugh. He got into photography and always had a camera in my face. He developed and printed the photos and always gave me copies. We spent New Years Eve with Aunt Lou and Uncle Dick a…
I wanted to share a memory, but a memory is something recalled from the past, and Grandpa's spirit is very much alive for me. My present is imbued with so many small moments of past generosity, acceptance, and appreciation from my grandfather. My childhood was made more colorful by our frequent visits to Treasure Island, where Nanny and Grandpa treated us like we were literal gifts. But some of my favorite moments with Grandpa occurred in my adulthood, when he and I developed a real friendship. In Washington, we drank together at the home bar of one of his oldest friends; in Las Vegas, we devised the most risk averse way to play the slots; at the Petrified Forest, h…
I was lucky enough to know Dick and Lou through AFA. Dick was the most modest, kind man. He could tell the most fascinating stories in the quietest way. When I served with him on the AFA Board, he was such a teacher and mentor. It was through his efforts that AFA is still here and the successful school it is. He always gave others credit for that but it was his hard work and perseverance that made it happen. Our trips to the northern campus were always an adventure! It was a privilege to call him my friend. He will be missed. Claudia Sokolowski