On my Dad’s Shoulders, a New World Opened for Me.
My earliest memories were bank holidays, when my usually serious father would be relaxed and happily bundle the family onto a train to get to a large park. There we joined up with the extended families. All the fathers would organise a cricket or mock rounders game with the older children which Dad joined in […]
I Have Striven to Raise my Sons as I imagine my Dad Would Have Raised Me
Despite how fathers are often portrayed in our American society today, fathers of strong character are essential to the well being of the family; to the wife and mother and the children. My own memories of my dad have been created from the stories told to me by my mother and uncles, and by a […]
I was Richly Blessed by My Father
My father was quite the man. After working his way through medical school, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, the Captain of Death in those days. A baby and another on the way struck severely at his sense of responsibility. He said he never doubted that he would live. He recovered, but lost a lung in […]
So Blessed
Dad played children’s records and other good music all the time. He also played piano by ear while singing lyrics, played hangman on a school-size chalkboard, played wiffle ball and beach ball baseball in our backyard and on the street in front of our house, took us to the park and to visit grandparents, played […]
In Honor of Arnold E. Hedtke, Jr.
I consider myself fortunate because my father was an exemplary man. I grew up in an era when you could count on your father to say what he meant and that he meant what he said! Basically, he was a man of his word and expected the same from everyone, including me. Setting an example […]
Thank You, Dad
My mom and dad were reluctant immigrants from Ireland, arriving here in 1958, the year I was born. The streets of NYC were not paved with gold for them. And my father’s social drinking habits became full-on alcoholism in the new world. Despite this, my old man was grounded in his Irish-Catholic faith. His work […]
Fond Memories
My dad was completely dedicated to ensuring that the three of us children had a college education. He had several job reversals throughout his life, but I never heard a complaint from either my mom or dad. They loved each other very much and were very dedicated to one another and to caring for us. […]
Leading by example
As a youngster, I was helping my dad paint our garage. A neighbor saw what we were doing and that it was such a nice day for outside chores. He proceeded to paint his garage. When my dad saw what the neighbor was doing, he suggested we put aside our painting to assist him, which […]
Their Only Monuments Are in the Hearts of Their Families
Sunday is Father’s Day. Last week, we lit a yahrzeit candle (a memorial candle) for my father, Harold Samuel Feder. If it was in my power, I’d light candles for him from here to Jerusalem. He was, quite simply, the best man I’ve ever known. My father’s life spanned the 20th century. He was born […]
Do Your Best. Others Are Depending on You.
My dad’s boyhood dream was to fly airplanes for a living. At age 19 in early 1941, my dad was a licensed civilian pilot trained by a precocious 22-year-old instructor (Bob Bean) at the Max Conrad Flying School. In August 1941, dad enlisted in a Navy aviation pilot program.