"PAPA" (5/15/15
to 10/23/08) - In
Memorium
(Last updated 12/23//08)
"Papa" (my Dad) - the
early years: my parents on their wedding
day (left), and kayaking on the Fox River (right) in a canvas
over wood frame boat that he built, 1938
Papa in Chicago at 26, July 1941 (left);
Papa and me at his family's country compound in Fox River Heights
(center) and kayaking on the Fox River (right) during the summer
of 1943
Papa cutting my cousin Mel's hair,
1946 (left) - among other talents, he was a great barber; Papa,
my Mom, and me in 1947 (center); Papa in front of the Little House
that he built for us at the FRH compound, our summer home away
from home, 1951 (right)
Papa, the fly fisherman, with a string
of 9 smallmouth bass that he caught in the Fox River, 1953 (left);
Papa and my Mom, 1954 (center left); Papa and Smoky, our chihuahua,
1955 (center right); Papa at the beachfront on the Fox River,
1956 (right)
My Mom and Papa in San Francisco, 1963
(left), after coming to my college graduation in LA; Papa, the
printer, in 1966, modeling for an ad in one of his trade magazines
(right)
Papa in Oregon: After my mother died in 1993, Papa set out in his
old RV to visit his grandson Drew in northern Florida; after staying
for almost a year and some much needed RV repairs, Papa crossed
the country, arriving in Oregon in June of 1994 after a breakdown
in the middle of Missouri that required replacment of the RV's
motor. After 78 years in Chicago, he thought he was in paradise.
He had amazing energy, and for several years took to exploring
his new home with a vengeance.
Papa trying out a pair of cross country
skis (left) near Mt. Hood Meadows on the southeast side of the
mountain in 1994; he thought it would be like ice skating - it
wasn't! Papa hiking in the snow in May on the June Lake trail
on the south side of St. Helens (right) in Washington
Papa heading up the Eagle Creek Canyon
trail (left), and on the upper Elowah Falls trail, cut into the
wall of McCord Creek canyon (right) in September, both in the
Columbia River Gorge
Papa getting ready to embark in the
Zodiac onto Yale Lake, on the south side of Mt. St. Helens near
Cougar, WA (left), and trying out a sea kayak on the Columbia
River off a beach on the east end of Haydn Island (right)
Papa paddling an inflatable kayak on
Oak Lake in the interior of Sauvie Island, about 20 miles north
of Portland (left), and taking on the white water of the lower
Clackamas River (right), which forms the southern boundary of
the city's metropolitan area
Papa on one of many float trips on
the upper Willamette River (left), and tiptoeing thru the tulips
at Wooden Shoe outside Woodburn, OR (right)
Papa on the Old Growth Trail at Lost
Lake (left) on the northeast side of Mt. Hood; and on a log bridge
over the Nisqually River (right) on the southwest side of Mt.
Ranier in Washington
Papa fishing for trout above the town
of Maupin on the Deschutes River (left), a famous trout and steelhead
river in the high desert on the east side of the Cascades, and
for other things on the Siltcoos (right), a short coastal river
near Florence
Papa sampling the Pacific Ocean (left),
and enjoying the ocean view from a secluded spot in the Oregon
Dunes (right)
Papa crossing the suspension bridge
at the bottom of the Lava Canyon trail on the southeast side of
St. Helens (left), and on the climb back up (right)
Papa at the Willamette Locks (left)
just south of the city, and taking a break to listen to the music
during a tour of the Rose Festival floats (right)
Papa got
very sick at the end of July, 2002 (just after his 87th birthday),
ended up being hospitalized, having a mild heart attack, then
having a serious cancer operation; somehow he pulled thru, was
up and walking within ca 5 hours of his abdominal surgery, and
was out of the ICU after only 3 days
Papa about a week later, happy to be
in a foster care home for further recovery after his release from
the hospital (left); on his first outing - to his favorite Vietnamese
restaurant - after his doctor's visit (center); and out for a
walk as he gained strength - and his face continued to fill out
(right)
Papa on his 88th birthday (left) on
a return visit to his favorite Vietnamese restaurant. What can
I say? He was a creature of habit - and he did love their sweet
and sour coconut vegetable soup. Papa bought himself a new bike
in April (center) as an early birthday present, designed and built
a carrier for it that fitted on his car's trailer hitch and was
a little better at riding it by July (right)
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