In Memory of Alan Gaynor (1931-2022)
Today would have been my father’s 91st birthday. He died this past April. His death certificate lists the cause of death primarily as sepsis with a secondary contributor of Lewy Body.* (The same disease Robin Williams had.) I am sharing here the Facebook post I wrote after hearing the news of his passing as a tribute to my father, who used to avidly follow my LinkedIn articles until dementia made that impossible.
My father died peacefully early yesterday morning. He was 90 years old. He spent his last days with the love of his life, Mary. (Pictured with my dad above.) I was sad, of course, when I first heard the news. But today I feel at peace.?
My dad had a great life. He always called himself "lucky." His timing in life was always good. He bought his condo in Boston at the perfect time in the 1970s. He got his job teaching at Boston University at a time when they still awarded tenure. He got to travel the world doing what he loved -- teaching and lecturing.?
Even after he retired at age 82, he continued to advise doctoral students. I was fortunate enough to attend the last lecture he gave on System Dynamics. Not long after, the brilliant mind that had served him so well, began to deteriorate. Dementia slowly took our dad away. He was again lucky that he had married a woman much younger than he who truly loved and cared for him to the bitter end.
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We will all go through our grieving process, and I know there will be tears that will flow throughout the remainder of my days because I'll miss having a father. But his passing was a blessing. The truth was, he had reached the point where he would have needed to go to a nursing home. And that was absolutely the last thing he wanted. If he couldn’t be in his home (the same condo he bought in the 1970s), with Mary by his side, he didn’t want to remain here.
My father passed away peacefully in the early hours of April 28, 2022, a very lucky man.
Please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association.
*My father actually received multiple dementia-related diagnoses. But Lewy Body was the one listed on his death certificate.
Allison Gaynor is a children's book author under the pen name Aviva Gittle. If you would like her to consider reviewing your children's picture book, completely read this FAQ page: https://gotogittle.com/free-kids-book-reviews/.
Christian-School Leadership
1 年Allison, I just came across this having heard from another BU professor. It made me wonder about your father of whom I have deeply fond memories True, he was a good professor; very good, and a tough grader! But he had a special quality that endeared him to his students. I will not forget him and the good memories of our time at BU. I wish you comfort in his loss.
Author & Speaker: The Holocaust, Virtue Ethics, and Character Education
2 年Thank you for this posting, Allison. Your father was one of my favorite professors at Boston University. I will forever remember his wisdom and encouraging words. My sincere condolences.