Happy Thanksgiving Dad! Thank you for the Business Education!

Thank you for teaching us the meaning of Thanksgiving throughout the year! We didn’t have much growing up in NJ and did not complain about what we lacked. A few times a year, my father would pile all 7 of us kids into the car and drive to either the Paterson Mission in NJ or the McAuley and/or Bowery Missions in lower Manhattan. There is where we saw this hulking 6’-3” man, humble himself and give of himself to others. Obviously as kids, we had “better” things to do, but my dad knew that we needed to be present for these moments. There were even times my dad would befriend some of these men and take them home to our house for the day where he would let then let them relax with a warm shower, clean clothes and a hot meal. There were other times that these men would work with my dad as his plumber’s helper and he would pay them in cash at the end of the day. 

Over time, we learned that many of these men were highly educated and at one time prominent business leaders and over a series of events, lost not only their way, but everything and everyone in their lives as well.

16 years ago, at my father’s funeral, there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the funeral home. This man was wearing a mismatched suit that was 2 sizes too big which was very worn and tattered. He had a plastic bag with all of his belongings sitting next to him. He sat there quietly with tears streaming down his face, just staring at the casket. My brother introduced himself to this man and asked how he knew our dad. This man said that he was homeless and that he would see my father almost every morning at the local deli getting his daily cup a coffee and that sometimes he would buy me breakfast or give me a few dollars to get by for the day, but then he paused… but more importantly than that… he said, your dad was the only person I knew, who would look me in the eye and talk to me... he then said ~ I'm going to miss my friend!

Thank you Dad for raising us and giving us the best Business Education that no money could ever buy!

Happy Thanksgiving!