To Dad from all of us who love you!

This gathering is dedicated to you Dad, on the occasion of your Diamond Jubilee, your 75^th year. We would like to take this time to tell you what you mean to us. We love you, Dad, and we must acknowledge the fact that the charmed lives we lead would not be possible without you. The great things we do and beautiful things we have including this celebration would not be possible without you, Dad.

You have given us (and many others) a LOT. First of all, you gave us a fabulous Mother who loves us so much. You worked several important jobs so that we could have a spacious home in the ideal town of Villa Park to grow up in, excellent educations in the best of private schools, lessons, scouting, jobs, our own homes and so many things that we begged for or were just given as we were growing up.  Aside from these wondrous things, you have been and still are the Fatherly Force behind us, sometimes invisible yet always felt as you made sure in your own way that we did as told and learned our lesson or else. You gave us lots of responsibilities to develop our abilities. We found that when we failed you would always get us on track and expect better. You went out of your way to provide us kids the security of belonging to something very important such as our lineage, our religion, and our relatives which seemed all tied together with Pizza Pete’s, the Sons of Italy and many visits to Glendale on weekends. We have noticed that you face new and unexpected situations with a characteristic optimistic spirit.  Looking at your life we see that eternal optimism prevail no matter what challenges came at you and there were many starting when you were very young. One of the biggest was when your Mom and Dad packed all of your brothers and sister and everything you owned to move from Hackettstown, New Jersey to California hoping to find a better life and prosperity. It must have been a scary leap into the unknown so far away and very sad to say goodbye to all your friends and family there. When sadness overcame your father you said “Don’t cry Papa, we’re going to California!” To you this was a new adventure that you embraced despite some big disappointments and setbacks once you arrived. No sooner did your family get adjusted and start to thrive when we lost Papa Joe and you stepped up to handle all the family matters and the pizza business. It seems this has been the theme of your life experience – facing the big blows and tough times with gritty determination head on and victoriously. You are a good example for us dad, for never giving up, giving in or getting down for very long. You always did the best you could for all concerned despite a lot of unfairness towards you and even more challenging family demands beyond your obligations. We could feel your suffering and were sorry but we also had faith in you and Mom that no matter what happened, (like the time we had to evacuate at 4 AM. due to the big fire) you would always take care of all of us and keep us together.

 Your optimistic attitude enabled us to feel optimistic too. We are so lucky and blessed to have you, Dad. We see the difference between us and others our age who did not have strong or caring parents. Some day we might have a better awareness of what it took to reach your level of success and still continue to look out for and provide for so many people. What is a fitting tribute to someone who spent all his days working and sacrificing so that we could have a much better start in life than you did? We would like to express our appreciation, our amazement, gratitude and love for ALL you have done for us, even so much more than we can recall but yet we know it happened. Thanks to you and Mom, we have all the blessings, abundance and memories to remind us all the time. We know this goodness came from you even though we don’t show our appreciation as much as we should. Maybe the reward is that we honor and display in ourselves the qualities that you shared and values you instilled in us. We hope that at this time in your life you can breathe easier and take in your success. Now you can give yourself some space to revisit your good memories and let your family take care of you too. You are so precious to us kids. It’s only because of you that we have a future. We pray that we have inherited some of your innate wisdom, strength and especially that optimistic spirit. We will always feel connected to you because of all you did for us.  We feel honored to be with you on your 75^th birthday, and glad that you take good care of yourself so you can be around a lot longer. A lot of people know you and love you but we, your family, know and love you best of all. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

From our hearts,  – Kathy, Frankie, Joey, Christopher and Jeannie.

 

Kathy’s Tribute and Memories of Dad 

Dad, I remember when I was 5 or 6 years old and you came in the house as Santa Claus!

For awhile you had me, Frank and Joe convinced but then I saw your wedding ring and

said “Is that you Daddy?!”  Soon I learned that you always have been our Santa Claus whether in disguise or not. I still remember the book you gave me, “Three Little Kittens.” 

I will always remember all the fun things we did in Boston at our first AUA together in 1981. I was introduced to mussels which you ate with glee in Gloucester, MA as well as Italian mueffaletto sandwiches.  I was amazed at how fast and far you walked on the entire Freedom Trail and how I could NOT keep up with you. It was fun looking at the site of the Boston Tea Party, the museums and Old Ironsides. We also went to hear the Boston Pops play one of the nights.  You were a lot of fun, Dad.  Thank you for showing me around and helping me learn those meetings all the time as well as protecting me from the vampires (nurses). I also enjoyed going to New Orleans with you and Mom for the World’s Fair!  There were MANY great times like that. You always included me, Dad. 

Good Things You Don’t Know:

Dad you do not know this but when I was little I would often go in my room and pray that you would not get lost or hurt on your way home.  I was worried about that even more when we moved to Villa Park because I heard you say that it was a longer drive to your office and you would always be home after dark. 

I used to hate ironing but I did my best on your shirts so you would look nice. 

Things I Never Said 

I was always so proud that you were the president of a big company like REI and the president and organizer of so many tremendous companies and organizations!  It was wonderful that you invited and made possible for Nana Rose and Nana Margaret to join us on many vacations. We had so much fun with them and they enjoyed it too.  We have a lot of nice memories of family togetherness, thanks to you. You took us to many places all the time even though we kids were fighting with each other. Most weekends you drove all of us into the Glendale area so we could be with our grandparents and cousins.

We are so fortunate that you and Mom made every holiday so much fun with all the company we always had and all the presents! You and Mom always managed to get us exactly what we wanted! We were so excited when you decided to put a swimming pool in the backyard! You were always giving, giving, giving and still are. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say we appreciate and understand A LOT more how hard you worked for us and why you weren’t home very much. I hope now we can make up for that time Dad. You deserve to be treated like a King by your family.  Thank you so much for all you have given me over the years and especially lately.  (too numerous to mention).

I love you much and always will. 

You are the BEST DAD EVER!!! 

With all my heart, 

Kathy,  #1 Daughter

 

  

From John

        

 

With all my respect and admiration, 

John

 

 

The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart, the original good heart with which every man is born.” – Mencius”

On your 75^th  

There is no better time than now to reflect on our lives together. And there is no better time to remember important times together.  For when all of us turn around someday and look back at our lives, we will treasure most the memories and bonds we have with our Family.  This was one of the important times to me with my Father and Mother. 

Some of the best times were together as a Family, traveling and learning about each other.  Dad, you made those time happen!!  In Italy 1970, brother Joe taking the photo.

It is interesting to note that what kids want from their fathers is the same thing that fathers want for their kids. And it is the same thing researchers say is best for kids. It is not just pockets of time devoted to the kids that we call “quality time.”
It is time, period.  This is one of those times in 2003 at your birthday.

 

And as we look ahead at times to come, we will think about the times past and remember the teachings and times together, because they are all that matter.  They’ll be clear to you and your family, who will remember them forever.

 

 For you on your Birthday, 

Penny, Laurel and Frank Jr.