We said goodbye to my Dad this weekend after his short battle with cancer.
My dad was an introvert, but he was the life of the party with his jokes, speeches, and dancing. He was a trendsetter but often jumped into emerging trends too early; as a data scientist before the role had a name, as a day trader before it became many people’s obsession, and a pickleball player before it became everyone’s passion. He was a family man and cherished his time with grandchildren.
My dad introduced me to computers. On one visit to his office when I was a young kid, he sat me in front of an Apple 2 and showed me how to play Lemonade Stand. He refused to get me an Atari 2600 and instead bought me a Commodore Vic-20. I still remember visiting the computer store in Brooklyn, where he added an 8K memory cartridge and a tape deck to store files. I was thrilled. When I didn’t “get” that I could code video games, he showed off his development skills and created a functional version of Space Invaders. Later, when I was a teen, he showed me how to use VisiCalc to capture inventory, as I was promoted to chef of a local summer camp and responsible for feeding hundreds of kids. He was thrilled that I pursued an engineering degree. I dedicated my Master’s thesis to my mom and dad.
My dad taught me to question everything, to DIY wherever possible, to seek low-cost and simple solutions. And a whole lot more that I can’t put to words right now.
Thank you, Dad. I love and miss you.
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