We got the chance to shoot pheasants in South Dakota, geese
in North Dakota, go to Mexico with his grandchildren, see the
cliffs of Western Ireland, listen to Pavarotti at the Warner,
smoke cigars on the back porch, banter about an article in
the New York times, argue about business decisions, drink too
much wine on a fishing trip in Canada, and enjoy over 50
Christmas parties together. Although I will never again have to endure his criticism or
crave his praise or chase a bear out of our campsite within
the Smokey Mountains, I have been able to do all of those
things with him. Although he won't be bursting into my office on December
23rd and having me accompany him to buy an apartment's worth
of furniture for a refugee family, or feeling the pride of
seeing my aged parents volunteer in the homeless shelter, I
did get to do that with him once. There may be no more deer hunting or trout fishing trips to
Potter County or camping on the Outer Banks, or horseback
riding in the Allegheny Forests, or watching World War II
documentaries or going to James Bond movies on my birthday,
but not everybody gets the chance to create this wealth of
memories and for that chance I have been very blessed. But while Dad loved to travel and do and experience life in
a very full way, and to share those experiences with his
children and grandchildren generously, it was his transfer of
character, drive, and confidence to us that was his greatest
gift.