Tribute to Dad
By: Brian A. Magnan CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®
Director – Magnan Family Wealth Management
The other day, I was chatting with a few friends about how our fathers aren’t in the best of health. One of them suggested writing a eulogy for our fathers while they’re still alive. Since Father’s Day is in June, I thought this might be an opportune time to do it.
To give you a bit of background, my father, Art, is 84 years old and has primary progressive aphasia (PPA), which is the inability to recall words. Bruce Willis is one celebrity who recently contracted this same disease. The disease severely limits any conversation with my dad. He can still hear and understand, so his non-verbal communication works quite well. At his core, he’s a kind and funny man. Physically, Dad is doing well. However, the PPA has progressed into dementia, and in financial planning terms, he can no longer perform two out of the six daily living activities.
Dear Dad,
You taught me the value of entrepreneurship. Mom and you took a huge risk by leaving your salary-based job as an appliance repairman to start your own business. You both fondly remember how you would stare at the phone in those early years, eagerly waiting for it to ring. At the end of your career, you were able to raise three children through college in a comfortable home and maintain your lifestyle in retirement.
You instilled in me the confidence to communicate with adults. When I was around 12 years old, you had me answering the phone for customers who called in to schedule appointments. I didn’t do much; I just took down their name, address, phone number, and any issues they were having with their appliance. However, that interaction was an incredibly valuable lesson for me.
You demonstrated the advantages of learning audibly through talk radio. Of course we didn’t have podcasts back then, and audiobooks hadn’t gained popularity yet. So, our family would listen to 720 am WGN talk radio from 6 am to 6 pm every day. Whether it was Wally Phillips or Bob Collins in the morning, snippets of Paul Harvey with “the rest of the story” throughout the day, or Harry Carey and Steve Stone describing the Cubs game in the afternoon, I was always learning something new.
You instilled in me a strong work ethic. Many nights, you would bring home the customer’s appliance that you couldn’t fix at their house and work on it at home after dinner.
You were the best baseball coach I ever had. You were adored and respected by all the players on each team you coached. Your ability to connect with each player was unparalleled, like Ted Lasso before Ted Lasso.
You showed me how to love my spouse. Your admiration for Mom is pure and genuine. You and Mom exemplified joint parenting perfectly, never letting me divide you into a disagreement or argument.
You gave the best massages. I’ve never had anyone massage away my stress better than you. Perhaps working with your hands all day gave you the strength and sensitivity required. Or maybe it was the genuine sincerity that I could sense.
You taught me the value of a dollar. You always reminded us of the cost of everything. I remember thinking that I wanted to earn enough money so I wouldn’t have to budget for donuts. Those chocolate ones from Entenmann’s were my absolute favorite!
You taught me the importance of taking care of the community. Your gift of fixing appliances didn’t end when you sold the business. You became your neighbors’ favorite handyman too.
You gave me the invaluable gift of being debt-free. You purchased my first car and paid off my college tuition. This was a significant portion of your income, and I certainly didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have at the time. However, it allowed me to start investing at an early age.
Certainly, you weren’t perfect, but you always gave 100% to your spouse, children, friends, and community.
I love you Dad.
Brian
P.S. I know I’ve apologized for this before. During one of our baseball practices with the team, I threw the ball to you while you weren’t looking, and it hit you in the nose. For some reason, I can still vividly recall that moment. I’m truly sorry for hurting you.
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Magnan Family Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.