Happy Birthday, Kappa!

Happy Birthday

to my wonderful dad!

He's turning 84 today.

I'm very blessed to have this

hilarious,

kind-hearted,

principled,

outgoing,

enthusiastic,

theatrical,

strong-willed,

entreprenurial,

active,

entertaining,

inquisitive,

loving man

for my father, and the grandfather of my children.
He plays tennis, golf, rows a boat, rides a bike, reads to school children, takes painting classes, helps his friends, grows vegetables and flowers in his garden, reads and writes letters to the editor of the newspaper.

Kappa was born into a prosperous family, two years before the Great Crash, in which all of the family's savings were lost. His parents divorced, and he started to work part-time at the age of 12. He performed in local theater and repertory, graduated from high school, enrolled in the University of Washington, and then enlisted in the Navy to serve (and to avoid the draft - he said he didn't want to march) in WWII. Once the war was over, he finished college on the G.I. Bill. He went into radio broadcasting, and from there into advertising sales.

After my parents' marriage, at the request of his father-in-law, my father went to work for my mother's family's company. That didn't work out well, so after giving it his best for 14 years, he started a new company when he was 40 years old. He learned to fly an airplane, and overcame his fear of flying, built a cabin with his own hands (and my mother's help), put all three of us kids through college, sent us to summer camp, trained us all in his business, taught us a strong work ethic, and has helped to put his grandchildren through college. He is a true family man.

If you'd like to see more photos, check here, here & here.

I love you, Dad! Have a wonderful day!