Heaviest of hearts... farewell - we lost a good one... 2/1/23

[Jigman13]

Thank you all. The kind words help.

We held my father's viewing yesterday from 1 pm to 5 pm in Edison, NJ. One lengthy viewing, no funeral. Over 200 people attended from local NJ, all over NY state out to Montauk, northern CT, Maryland, Florida and Hawaii. Seeing the sheer volume of people was immensely comforting. Many people spoke, everybody cried--most importantly, everybody smiled.

The funeral director couldn't believe it. He told me he only sees this on very rare occasions when the person who passed is very young. My father had a positive impact on many people's lives. This outpouring of respect and remembrance helped soften the blow, just a little.

The entire time we had a 150 song Playlist going of my dad's favorite Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, U2, Jeff Beck, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Credence, Rolling Stones, Dire Straits and more... it was a send-off of epic proportions for a simple man from the Bronx who resided in Colonia. The wall around the casket was draped in gorgeous flowers.

Before saying my final goodbyes, i slipped him pictures of my kids who he loved dearly, and a re-rigged Green Machine stinger. He gave it to me in October after our last tuna trip to the Hudson Canyon. The line was chafed, and I do the bulk of the trolling lure maintenance. He never questioned my crimps : )

While the tuna here on Earth can now rest a bit with him no longer navigating the canyons of the North Atlantic, I wanted to send him where he was going prepared and ready for action.

Find the temp break where ever you are, Capt. Look over your shoulder and I'll be there running the cockpit, deploying the spread. Love ya Daddy-O!