October 31, 1994, was a miserable, wet, and windy day. Later
that day, it turned into that famous “it was a dark and stormy night”.
I had been at my new job at CIGNA Insurance for roughly two
weeks. After returning from a very soggy business lunch, I was drying my socks
in the microwave (seriously) when the phone call came from Minnesota.
My mom had called to let me know that my dad had had a heart
attack while eating his grilled cheese sandwich at lunch. Although their
kitchen was quickly filled by an entire team of paramedics, they couldn’t bring
him back, and a few days later, we made the trip to Minnesota to attend his funeral. THIS is one of the songs that was played at his funeral:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ygJD8dxi3o
I didn’t present dad’s eulogy (although I DID give “the final speech” for both my mother and my father-in-law when it came time for their final goodbyes). I have no idea what the priest said during my dad’s eulogy, but I’ll always remember a comment that my cousin Jean Bobzien said during the funeral lunch:
“You know, he was a really good guy.”
Dad never made a pile of money, and nobody is ever going to erect a building in his honor. Unlike John McCain, he did not have two former presidents give eulogies at his funeral, but he DID have the same song played at his funeral. In today’s world, though, we’d all be better off if there were more people, like him, whose highest accolade was that they were a “really good guy”.
Dad was a lifelong Democrat, but he didn't consider the Republicans to be bad people. As a result, he would have LOVED the eulogy that Barack Obama gave at McCain's funeral:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GfjgRhPmaM
Later on in the evening of October 31, the Bears played the Packers at Soldier Field, in some of the worst playing conditions imaginable. Ultimately, the Packers prevailed 33-6.
I didn’t present dad’s eulogy (although I DID give “the final speech” for both my mother and my father-in-law when it came time for their final goodbyes). I have no idea what the priest said during my dad’s eulogy, but I’ll always remember a comment that my cousin Jean Bobzien said during the funeral lunch:
“You know, he was a really good guy.”
Dad never made a pile of money, and nobody is ever going to erect a building in his honor. Unlike John McCain, he did not have two former presidents give eulogies at his funeral, but he DID have the same song played at his funeral. In today’s world, though, we’d all be better off if there were more people, like him, whose highest accolade was that they were a “really good guy”.
Dad was a lifelong Democrat, but he didn't consider the Republicans to be bad people. As a result, he would have LOVED the eulogy that Barack Obama gave at McCain's funeral:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GfjgRhPmaM
Later on in the evening of October 31, the Bears played the Packers at Soldier Field, in some of the worst playing conditions imaginable. Ultimately, the Packers prevailed 33-6.
Here’s where the story gets a little weird:
George Halas, founder of the Chicago Bears, ALSO died on
Halloween, 11 years before my dad passed. For that reason, Halloween 1994 will always
remain as one of the most memorable Halloweens that I have ever experienced.
He was a really good guys, this is the honor for most of us, these normal people in the world, but it is enough.
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