If my father was still alive he’d be 104 today. What a great person. He taught me how to enjoy watching and then they play baseball, taking me to my first baseball game at Briggs Stadium, which was later called Tiger Stadium around 70 years ago. He taught me how to throw, catch and kick a football. We also went and saw the Detroit Lions also at Briggs Stadium. I went to my first Red Wings game at Olympia Arena with him. He also taught me about collecting stamps a hobby that I still do today. Along with my mother he came to talks and book readings and always congratulated me on my achievements, small or large. He hugged me when things were rough. He always had time for my daughter. He was just a great person.
World War II in the south pacific. He’s #8 the skinny kid at the back. He was 19 when he enlisted in the marines in December 1941. Shortly after this photo he contracted dengue fever which nearly took his life. He spent close to two years in hospitals back in the U.S. When he got to San Francisco he weighted 119 pounds, which for a man who was 6’2″ meant he was rail thin.
This is from 1953 so I was probably two sitting on his left knee. Those are cousins David and Maria my mother’s aunt Florences’ children. Coincidentally, she was also born on 24 August, but in 1925 and was actually three months younger than my mother.
Late 1984 when I told my father that I had four tickets to see the Tigers in the World Series. Little did I know that would be the game where they won it all. Dan Petry was the starting pitcher and Kirk Gibson hit the mammoth home run. And we were there.
Having lunch, which was probably a hot dog at the Ann Arbor Stamp Show in 2000.
I could go on and on, but I should stop here. We still miss him.
More later…
Michael's Place 