He didn't make it to his 92nd birthday next March, but he did make it to his 64th wedding anniversary on Dec. 19th. My son was driving back home from D.C. that day so he stopped to have lunch with his grandparents in Baltimore and made them very happy.
Hal grew up in Brooklyn with his parents and older brother. He served in World War II, then attended Alfred University and studied ceramics engineering. Back home after graduating, he met Barbara Weiner at a skating rink, and they married in 1948 and moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where Barbara taught school and Hal worked on the secret government research project. They lived briefly in Chicago, where Alan was born; then in New Jersey, where Rick was born; then, by 1957 or so, settled in Baltimore, where Fred was born and where they stayed to this day. They worked, raised their boys, and developed a network of close friends with whom they took vacations and celebrated holidays. When the boys were in their late teens, Hal and Barbara began leaving them home and traveling internationally, and they didn't stop visiting other countries until they were in their 80's.
Hal and Barbara traveled with my family a lot too, within the U.S. We shared trips to Florida, Maine, West Virginia, Lake Tahoe, and Oregon, as well as many other places. Hal was a wonderful photographer, and preserved a lot of our family adventures on film. I think many of my kids' best childhood memories stem from those trips. Hal loved gadgets of all kinds, and in his later years, when he couldn't get out much, he got great pleasure from the ipad his kids and grandkids gave him.
Hal collapsed suddenly this morning at home and stopped breathing. No lengthy suffering, no dreaded move to a nursing home, no loss of mental acuity. He's been a huge part of my life for the past 20 years, and now so much has changed. My husband, the most devoted son I have ever seen, has lost his dad. My kids have lost their grandpa - and, make no mistake, he was Nate's grandpa, not his step-grandpa, right from Day One.
And I've lost one of my best champions. As cranky and temperamental as Hal could be, he never left any doubt as to how much he loved all of us. I hope we all did the same for him.
This made me cry, Susan. It sounds like Hal led a very full life, with much adventure and surrounded by love. I'm glad he didn't suffer with illness and am so sorry for your loss :(
ReplyDeletePrayers for all of you...
Thank you so much, Donna. Yes, Hal did lead a very full life, and it wasn't really until the past year that his physical problems started overcoming his ability to enjoy it. We should all be so lucky! Have a joyous Christmas with your son and lovely new daughter-in-law!
DeleteSad. But, yes, sudden is easier than drawn out. Not easier on all of you so much, but easier on him. God bless.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Genevieve. As my husband said, it was just the way a humble man like him would have wanted to go - quickly and without a fuss. Thank you for your kind wishes. I wish you and yours blessed holidays.
DeleteVery sorry for your and Nate's loss. Thanks for sharing this eulogy of sorts - it's great to see he lived a happy and interesting life. Best, Dan.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dan. Your caring is much appreciated. Nate is a lucky man to have a friend like you.
ReplyDeleteHe never had a daughter in traditional terms, but you were sure his.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post about your father-in-law. Peace to him, and to you all. He led a blessed life, it seems to me, and knew how to share his love, despite being a bit cranky at times.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you! Yes, he knew how to cherish his family, and we cherished him in return. I hope my kids have absorbed his lessons as well as his love. I so appreciate your condolences, Pam.
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