My best memory was participating in an annual play put on by the alumni association of my dad’s high school. The play was “The Sound of Music” and my father having 5 children at the time was a natural to play Captain Von Trapp and my 2 brothers and my sister and I were cast as Von Trapp children. We live in Pittsburgh and it happens Don Brockett (Chef Brockett from Mister Rogers) was an alumni from the same school and was the musical conductor that evening. I remember thinking that the slip I was wearing under my dress was so beautiful. During the performance, I kept lifting my dress so everyone in the audience could see this great slip and I remember Chef Brockett desperately waving his hands for me to drop my dress. But most of all, I could see my dad laughing. Afterwards, although I was warned to never do that again, I still remember my dad’s laugh.

My father died suddenly at age 37 from a brain aneurysm. I was 11 years old with 3 older siblings and 2 younger siblings. Although we only had him a short time, my dad was great! He had the best sense of humor, and I remember laughing a great deal. My dad did not graduate from college until my younger brother was born so my parents were very creative in providing in all ways for 6 kids. I’m just very glad that I remember so much laughter during a time that had to be very stressful for my parents. My dad was taken from us too soon. I wish my nieces and nephews could have known him.