I remember my dad in many different ways, Father, Family
Leader, Mentor and someone who would discipline you.
My dad was born August 27th 1906 in Sicily; his
given name was Ignatius Diecidue. He came to the USA in 1921 to go to school at
Columbia University. At 15 yrs. of age he had graduated from high school and
wanted to go to college in the USA.
He arrived on Ellis Island in 1921, he could not speak English.
He was frightened and looking for relatives which he found. For two years he
worked to make money for college and went to school to learn English. During
that time he assisted his parents to come to America also.
He did attend Columbia University and was a graduate of the
school of Pharmacy. He was 27 years old when he met my mom (who was 18) at a prearranged
supper by their families. It was that night that my mom was told, “this is who
you are going to marry”, which she did.
They owned their own drug store on Brooklyn NY on Mayberry
St. They lost their store during the depression and my dad got sick and had to
move to Florida to a warm climate. He then went into the citrus business with
his father in law. He never practiced his medical profession again.
He was a hard working honest man; he did everything he could
to provide for his family. I once ask him his he regretted his life as a citrus
person. He said he did not, and told me that his knowledge that he gained in
life and college could never be taken from him. He said that a man or woman
could achieve anything in life if they really wanted to. One thing that has
stayed with me is this; “Son, be man enough to stand up for what you believe
and also man enough to admit it when you are wrong”. I have tried to live up to
that in my life time.
Dad, I love you and will never forget you…..Thanks for being
the dad that you were.
May all of you fathers ahve a Blessed day.
“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds— his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” -Psalm 68:4-5
