My Dad

October, 2026

Dear Dad,

I have been thinking about you a lot lately. The Cleveland Guardians (they will always be the Indians to me!) are in the playoffs. I am getting updates from my best childhood friend who still lives in Cleveland. They have won several games and I know you would be thrilled.

I have many happy memories of going to games with you. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, in order to encourage kids to study, gave away 6 pairs of tickets for all straight A students. That was me! We had SO much fun going. You taught me how to complete the program play by play. I still have one of those and I treasure it. We got those pairs of tickets for 7 years. You were passionate about the game, and I loved sharing that passion with you. In fact, I knew all the lineup for the Indians and remembered it for many years. My friends’ husbands were always amazed I could rattle off those names.

I have also been thinking of you because the last time I saw you was during Columbus Day Weekend in 1978, just 4 months after I was married. You, Mom and Charlie all drove to NH to spend time together. It was a fun weekend with glorious weather. I knew you were getting weaker but I could not bear the thought of losing you so I just focused on our fun conversations.

On that Monday, after lunch in Exeter, where we had lunch before our wedding, we said goodbye. It never occurred to me—or maybe I did not want to think about it—but that was the last time I ever saw you. One month later, Mom called while I was in between classes teaching at UNH. She told me the horrific news that you were gone. Gone, Dad!! I was heartbroken.

You were the first person in my life who was cremated. For months I would see your face in my dreams and then there would be a blaze of fire. It was frightening .

You were always there for me, Dad. You guided me through homework (but never did it!!) I learned so much from you, with your passion for history. Although I knew I wanted to be a Spanish teacher, I took modern American history in college so we could talk about it. I loved that!

After I got my driver’s license, I always drove us to the supermarket on Saturdays. Mom was usually busy so we did the shopping. Then we would go home and bake brownies or cookies.

I had a lot of friends and they all enjoyed coming over to chat with you. One of the most special memories was that you and I wrote weekly letters to each other after I left for college—and until you died. You always made a list of all teams (whatever the sport that season) so I could follow my high school, college, grad school and UNH teams—and of course the Cleveland teams. I don’t think any of my friends were so lucky.

I have missed you dearly all of these years. But I have so many happy memories. Just last week, you came into my dream. That felt so special—thank you. Even though I miss you, I know you are always near.

Love,
Helen