# My dad is gone.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 6, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751 "2015-10-06T21:43:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/1 "2015-10-06T21:43:22Z")
Some of you may recall a thread I started a few years ago, when I [discovered](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=665225) that my dad was not my biological father.
Well, he passed away last Saturday, after a mercifully short hospital stay. The funeral was a week ago. I’ve been spending the intervening time getting my mother moved into a retirement community, with my sister’s invaluable help.
Dad was a computer pioneer (simulations), a lover of theater, a fan of ethnic food (the spicier, the better), and a real goofball who loved Tom Lehrer, Alan Sherman, Monty Python and Laugh-In.
I’ll miss his razor-sharp perspective on everything from software to world affairs. He always supported me, even if we didn’t always see eye-to-eye.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/2 "2015-10-06T21:45:01Z")
My condolences to you. I know how it feels.
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/3 "2015-10-06T21:57:07Z")
I’m so very sorry for your loss. My father has been gone nearly 7 years. It still hurts. You and your family are in my thoughts.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/4 "2015-10-06T21:58:24Z")
I’m so very very sorry.
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### Author:  [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/5 "2015-10-06T22:06:05Z")
I’m very sorry. He sounds like he was a great father.
My condolences.
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### Author:  [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/6 "2015-10-06T22:55:35Z")
I’m so sorry.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/7 "2015-10-06T23:38:33Z")
So sorry to hear. This is one of those tough parts of life that he got you ready for.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/8 "2015-10-07T00:03:48Z")
Sounds like a really great guy - I’m sure you will all miss him dearly.
My condolences, I hope things go well with your mother’s move.
Peace to you.
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/9 "2015-10-07T00:09:28Z")
I’m so sorry. He sounds like a really intelligent and interesting person. I hope you’re doing okay.
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/10 "2015-10-07T00:10:01Z")
Very sorry for your loss.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/11 "2015-10-07T00:43:31Z")
Thanks, everyone.
Dad was pretty interesting - he grew up poor, a Jewish kid living in the rough, Irish-Catholic neighborhood of Dorchester, Mass. The only one of three sons to go to college, and Harvard, too boot. Worked for the NSA when they first were formed, went on to learn about computers, and made a career of it. Married for 61 years, and lived in the same house until this last illness, 52 years in all.
Never was much good with hardware, but that’s what he had me for.
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### Author:  [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/12 "2015-10-07T00:55:47Z")
I’m sorry for your loss, \*\*beowulff \*\*. I know it sucks.
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/13 "2015-10-07T01:00:31Z")
I’m sorry to hear of this profound loss, you and your family have my very deepest sympathies. He sounds a wonderful man.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/14 "2015-10-07T01:10:47Z")
Condolences. Mine’s been gone 16-1/2 years now. Still miss him.
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### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/15 "2015-10-07T01:14:09Z")
My sincere condolences for your loss. May he RIP and may your memories bring you comfort.
Take care of yourself.
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### Author:  [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/16 "2015-10-07T01:40:37Z")
I’m sorry, **beowulff**. ☹
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### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/17 "2015-10-07T01:45:29Z")
I’m so very sorry for your loss…
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/18 "2015-10-07T01:54:57Z")
I do know how it feels. But think of this, while you may not have seen eye to eye your dad did ove Tom Lehrer.
Sometimes I toy with the idea of a tape to be playing at my funeral reception, or the viewing. It would definitely have some Lehrer songs on it.
It’s good to have other family to help, it sounds as if getting your mom settled, along with your sister, is a relief. Sorry to hear you are going through this.
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### Author:  [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/19 "2015-10-07T02:00:56Z")
I’m so sorry. He sounds like a guy I would have really liked. I hope your heart will soon find peace.
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### Author:  [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dad-is-gone/733751/20 "2015-10-07T02:02:22Z")
Please accept my condolences.
It will happen that some stray event will trigger a memory of your dad and you will laugh, or at least smile, instead feel that sharp tear in your heart. Not soon, but eventually.
OFD
j.
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