My Dad passed away this morning, surrounded by his family.

It is fitting that Dad died on Labor Day.  He has been  involved  with the labor  movement  for his  entire  career. Starting from working for a union when he graduated from Iona, to teaching, to opening Equal Employment offices in the South, to running EEO for the Maritime Administration, to running EEO for the Labor Department.

Dad taught me several important life lessons, lessons I didn’t even realize I was being taught at the time.

• Do not prejudge, people or events. Form your judgment on your personal  interactions.
• Do not have an opinion on matters you haven’t investigated.  You don’t need to have an opinion on everything.
• Be true to your beliefs. Stand up to what you believe is wrong and stand for what you believe is right.
• Always be curious. Always be interacting with the world, the people, around you.
• Enjoy life.

Dad was curious and asking questions to the end. And enjoying life all the way.
I will miss him.