I had expected Dad to live a few years longer because his Mom lived to be 97 and he was 90. Doctors told me in 2025, though, he had only months to live. I moved from San Diego back to Sacramento in 2020 to take care of him, which at first involved regularly taking him shopping and to the hospital for medical appointments. Over time I devoted more and more time caring for him and having conversations with him about his reflections on his life and career.

He began telling his friends at work about me when I was 9, that I had memorized all the U.S. presidents and had a growing knowledge about American history. I was also a cartoonist, which was influenced by both parents. By 1973 I was giving both Mom and Dad copies of a daily newspaper I wrote by hand, based on news I heard on the radio. I ended up working in radio, but Dad was more interested in my work as a mobile DJ at weddings, because I played more of his favorite music and he could relate because he played as a musician in a swing band growing up.

One of Dad's all-time favorite musical stories was that he was friends with a vocal group called the Bell Sisters in the early 1950s. They were signed to one of the biggest record labels, RCA, and their song "Bermuda" made the national top ten on the Billboard chart. They also appeared in a few films and got to do TV shows with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and other big names.  Dad played in big band dance bands in Southern California throughout the fifties. He also had the pleasure of meeting singer Johnny Mercer once through his musical connections.

Dad's favorite instrument was eventually the clarinet, but he also played saxophone, guitar and a occasionally piano. His all-time favorite recording artist was Artie Shaw, who was known for several big band hits including "Frenesi." He was also a big fan of classical music composers such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. While our family was growing up in the 70s, he enjoyed the Bee Gees, whose number one hit "How Deep Is Your Love" was #1 the week he took custody of all 5 kids and moved us into our Arden Park home. Dad also loved instrumental leaders such as Henry Mancini, Herb Alpert &  The Tijuana Brass and Chuck Mangione. In 1978 he took me to my first jazz concert, which was Chuck Mangione.

Ultimately, Dad and I mostly talked about American history, economics and music. In his 27-year career with the State of California, he held jobs in management, as I did in radio and the hotel industry. So we were regularly on the same page when it came to ideas about managing a staff or working toward economic efficiency and sustainability. Dad's work helped save the state millions of dollars from the early sixties through the late eighties. His work was acknowledged by three California governors. Perhaps the topic that connected us the most was music, as I learned a lot from him about the music industry before I was born.  He enjoyed talking about his days at Stanford University and playing chess, which he taught me at a young age. He was very good at it. I became most closest to him in the final 5 years of his life. I will miss him and I am very thankful our relationship grew stronger in the 2020s.

A few thoughts about the little Daddly things Dad did.  He carried me on his shoulders at Disneyland.  He taught us how to swim.  How to shake hands.  How to throw a ball.    He did family things like play games with us: Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess, Hearts, and the Intellivision games like Football, Tanks, Bi-Planes, etc.  He went on an overnight camping trip with Me and Don when we were Cub Scouts.  He came to watch a HS Football game when Don and I were on the Rio Freshmen Team.   He watched the Kings and Queens Bowling Finals when Don was the top seed.  He emphasized an education.  Although it took some of us a while to realize and advance that agenda, his influence was embedded in all of us.  It was always good to make him laugh.   I remember when he came home from a long day of work, that was my goal.  I loved making him laugh.  

Thank you, Dad!

John