# My Hero (1944 - 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 18, 2026, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994 "2026-06-18T07:34:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/1 "2026-06-18T07:34:22Z")
Well, my dad died about an hour and half ago. He was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and a weakened heart. He was hanging in there pretty well - he was golfing two weeks ago - but he took a fast turn for the worst. He woke up last Friday shaking uncontrollably with an elevated heart rate. We went right to the ER and he was admitted before noon. From the jump the prognosis was not good, but the first day he was the doctor was talking to him about golfing the following week. But it wasn’t to be. His SATs would not stay up with any exertion. We made the decision to move to in hospital hospice this afternoon. At that point he came off high-flow oxygen and was just having his symptoms treated, but his breathing was labored right away. It was several rounds of morphine and valium and watching him gasp for breath for about six hours before he finally faded away. My mom is a wreck. My dad was such a good man. He was an Air Force vet. He was an engineer. He was married to my mother for 63 years - he loved her limitlessly. He loved golf. He hated Trump with a passion. He could fix anything. On any given afternoon you would have found him in the back yard cutting down trees for fun. I’m completely lost. I’ve been crying for a week but right now I can’t summon a tear. My dad’s name was Andrew Michael Slowik jr. He was the absolute best of us. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/2 "2026-06-18T07:58:46Z")
Vale Andrew Slowik Jr. I’m terribly sorry for your loss Jack, and wish you healing. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/3 "2026-06-18T07:59:32Z")
Thank you for that moving post. I’m so sorry for your loss. It may be very small comfort, if any, but let me just say that losing parents is an almost inevitable part of aging, and has happened to many of us here. Sometimes that loss was complicated, sometimes a very simple grief, usually somewhere in between. Regardless, it hurts. My condolences, ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/4 "2026-06-18T08:05:35Z")
I am so sorry for your loss and for the immeasurable hurt that comes with losing a parent. My condolences to you and yours. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/5 "2026-06-18T09:23:33Z")
I am very sory to hear this. > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’ve been crying for a week but right now I can’t summon a tear. It was like that when my brother died. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/6 "2026-06-18T09:51:40Z")
I am sorry for your loss. May his memory be a comfort to you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/7 "2026-06-18T10:59:19Z")
I’m very sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/8 "2026-06-18T11:09:21Z")
My condolences. Your post made me think of my own dad, now gone for ten years. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/9 "2026-06-18T11:38:25Z")
@CairoCarol said it better than I would have. The better they were, the harder the parting for the survivors. Hugs to you & Mom. There’s no rush now; don’t be hasty about anything. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/10 "2026-06-18T13:13:20Z")
My condolences. Pulmonary fibrosis is terrible. My father-in-law died from it a couple of years ago; something about the lack of oxygen made his BP high, and he had a stroke, after about eight years of suffering from the disease and steadily declining in capability. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/11 "2026-06-18T13:58:59Z")
I’m sorry for your loss. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > My condolences. Your post made me think of my own dad, now gone for ten years. Same here, 5 years almost to the day (06/21/2022) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/12 "2026-06-18T14:04:01Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > My dad’s name was Andrew Michael Slowik jr. He was the absolute best of us. As long as they’re remembered, they’re never _truly_ gone. My sincere condolences to you and your loves ones. May his memory be a blessing. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/13 "2026-06-18T15:03:10Z")
Thank you for sharing that, @Jack_Batty. Wishing strength to you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/14 "2026-06-18T15:27:17Z")
I am so sorry for your loss **Jack\_Batty**. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/15 "2026-06-18T15:42:41Z")
That was a wonderful eulogy. Thank you for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/16 "2026-06-18T16:45:30Z")
@Jack_Batty that is a wonderful tribute to a family hero and a role model for us all. i am sorry for your 7 your family’s loss/ Tripler On behalf of your father’s service: 🫡 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/17 "2026-06-18T17:45:01Z")
i am so sorry. may his memory be eternal. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/18 "2026-06-18T17:59:49Z")
I’m so sorry for your loss, @Jack_Batty. He was obviously a special and marvelous person. We should all be so fortunate as to be able to eulogize a parent as you have. I am glad you were there at the last. Grief must come in its own way and time, as you surely know. May it pass gently and smoothly, so you can be left with the best memories a son can have. Hugs to you in a challenging time. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/19 "2026-06-18T21:48:41Z")
I’m very sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994/20 "2026-06-18T22:55:09Z")
My very heart-felt condolences. Lost my Dad 21 years ago. He died suddenly in his sleep and at about 4am I got “that call”. I still miss him. He never got to meet my second wife- the genuine love of my life. He, who was in the US Army Air Corp just as it was transitioning over into the USAF and went through Basic Training in the first year that Lackland AFB was operating in that way, never got to see his grandson, my son, make it from Lackland to enlisted to Captain. It’s an agonizing walking dream. Keep your family close, talk about him a lot. ALOT a lot. Keep him fresh, and recount him to all who will listen. While this is a thread about his loss, could I ask you to share your top three fave stories about him? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-hero-1944-2026/1030994.md?page=2)