This year, I wanted to share an excerpt from my Dad's eulogy (written by my sisters). It perfectly describes my Dad's love of people, helping others and his strong sense of community:

Dad taught us the importance of volunteering and that when you give, you get. Everything he did — even the small things — he did with great passion. As an Italian immigrant, he welcomed the opportunity to work. It was the thing that enabled him to provide for his family. Family and community were everything. You took the time to nurture both. Work, while important, never got in the way of those things. Work was the extension of who you were in your family and your community.

Dad always listened with an open ear and heart. He showed us how to be nurturing and caring. His generosity was overwhelming – not only giving from his wallet but giving of his time and energy to his kids and to other people’s kids. We watched him teach CCD and run a hugely popular youth group that brought teenagers in and out of our house – they all wanted to be near Dad as much as we did. He spent time with the lonely and the sick, going into people’s homes to not just bring them communion but to also just sit and talk with them. Dad taught us it’s the connection to people that matters. The connections are the fuel that propels us to keep going and he showed us ways to make them happen.

Thank you in advance for considering a donation and we would love to see you on walk day!