To me, my brothers and sisters, and especially our mom, February 8 has recently become a very significant date. Prior to this year it held significance as Dad's birthday, and Dad, never being one to want to have any kind of fuss over him, preferred something low-key and family-oriented. Mom would cook dinner and make pineapple upside-down cake, his favorite. He would receive gifts reluctantly, usually responding to them with "you really didn't need to get me anything." What he loved the most was having all of us kids and Mom around him, eating cake, sharing stories and celebrating together.
With this past February 8, the date has taken a new and deeper significance with his passing, after a short, intense battle with the complications from Alzheimer's disease. His death was quiet and peaceful, and in contrast to his few years of fighting his illness, he simply let go. Mom and my sisters were at his side. I was there within minutes, my brothers were there a few minutes later. Like his 75 birthdays before (or at least those that us kids can remember), his death was without fuss, low-key and family-oriented.
At 76 years, his life created a circle and within that circle was us: his wife, his kids, our partners, his grandchildren. We can now think of February 8 as Dad's day—a day he gave to us to reflect on the memories of the times we'd had, and to continue on enjoying the relationships we've created amongst ourselves and in our own families.
This blog is a living memorial to John Ruszel, and a celebration his life through the scattered memories that I have swimming around in my head. I look forward to sharing my stories and hope to hear back from you all with your own comments and stories.
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A site dedicated to the memory of John Paul Ruszel.
About Dad
John Ruszel was, at different times in his life, a steelworker, a salesman, a chemist, an owner of a chain of delicatessens, the founding partner of a woodworking shop, and a small business entrepreneur. He had an undergraduate degree in chemistry and an MBA. He worked as a business liaison counseling business executives in Poland, Russia, and countless local shopkeepers. Of all of his life's achievements, he'd probably say his greatest and most important was his marriage to Margaret, his wife of 52 years, the seven children they'd raised and their thirteen grandchildren.
Contributors
Interested in Contributing?
It'd be great to have more authors to this site—I'd like to keep it as open and collaborative as possible. If you'd like to contribute your own posts, please email me and I'll add you on as an author. -t
2 comments:
Tim -- what a great idea. I too have thoughts of Dad swirling around in my head. I look forward to the day when my dreams change from "sick" Dad to "regular" Dad. Although the last few years and especially the last few weeks were particularly trying, the wonderful, funny, happy, silly times we've all had with Dad far outweigh the not so good.
I will contribute as soon as a particularly poignant event springs to mind.
XO
Jen
Hey Jen, that's great! The more, the better.
XO
T
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