From Cindy

My Dad is an amazing guy. A mathematical genius, smartest man in the world with round ears that believed in lucky pennies, Santa Claus and angels.

He had the most generous heart of anyone I've ever met and never once did he pass judgment on anyone. He loved the little things, like driving around in the rain trying to get lost, knocking over all the orange cones in the Disneyland Parking Lot & organizing pie fights for us when we were kids -- or rather having my mom organize it.

He found the bright side of everything - even in me. As most of you know, I wasn't always a delightful child but my Dad always saw the good in me & was always there when I needed him. Belly laughing like crazy when the accelerator spring of my VW convertible popped off & I couldn't get my car to stop. Flying up Forest Hill Road almost to Poplar and I finally got the bright idea to turn the car off. I called him from the gas station across the street from the bait shop and he was there in a heartbeat, popped open the hood of my car (in the back) and saw the spring dangling. Then came the big joyous belly laugh -- the kind that makes you wet your pants, cry & leaves your stomach sore for days.

Going to church was way more fun when he was there. Paper Balloons & Airplanes are best made out of church bulletins and the limits are endless on what you can do with Palms on Palm Sunday. But I know he was always listening, just multi-tasking because his faith was deep & true. I am certain he was greeted into heaven by God himself and is already in discussions about the automatic communion machine invention.

I feel lucky & blessed that I got to have this guy for my Dad. I know we will all miss him more than anything. His amazing spirit has touched all of us here so let's keep it going.

I implore all of you to keep picking up lucky pennies, keep telling jokes and playing poker, keep travelling the world visiting your grandchildren and loved ones, keep having GNO meetings, keep making chicken soup for anyone who needs it, stay on top of major league baseball, wear red high top tennis shoes if you feel like it. Always believe in yourself and refuse to believe that anything is impossible.

Thank you all for loving him, for being here today and for being his friend