Tags
Dad, Family dogs, Family history, Great Dane, Hare, Stephenson
Today would have been my Dad’s 85th birthday. I wish I could write about our long years together, the joys we shared, his interests and accomplishments, but at 28 he died in an accident. I was four and a half. That’s not a lot of time to build memories of a parent, and I want to remember more than I do, but here are some random thoughts:
- He had a goofy sense of humor and he and my mum laughed a lot together.
- He was brilliant.
- He’d always wanted a Great Dane, so my 4th birthday present was…Jeff, a Great Dane puppy.
- He was a nomad like the rest of my family–born in Kansas, living in several states before going to high school and college in Maryland, on to Alaska and Germany.
- His college best friend loved him so much that he dedicated a murder mystery to him 50 years after he died.
- He liked The Weavers (me too).
- I have his smile.
Happy birthday, Daddy. Love you.
William Edward (Stephenson) Hare (1933-1961) – took his step-father’s surname, Hare.
Generations of Nomads 
What a touching post, Kim, particularly with photos. Thank you! I’m sorry you lost your Dad at such an early age. Yet you carry on a part of him! Haden
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Thanks, Haden. I’ve been touched by the kind responses. Hope all’s well with you!
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Indeed, you do have his smile! You were so very young when he physically left your life and what a void that must be. I am hoping that your family helped build a portrait of him for you through their memories and stories. The one thing I had heard about him was that he was incredibly intelligent. Grief is a difficult process and many people don’t like to reminisce if it brings pain. I think that was the case for my father at least. He lost his mother at about the same age, 4, and people just would not talk about her. The circumstances were tragic and there were parts of it he never knew about, sadly. In fact, she was the reason that I originally signed on to Ancestry.
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What a thoughtful comment, Connie. Thank you! I’ve worked hard to learn about him where I could, and that loss is certainly a part of my interest (obsession with?) figuring out as much as I can about all of my family. I’m sure losing his mother so young must have been terribly hard for your dad. My choice has always been to want to talk and hear as much as possible, but everyone deals with loss in their own way. xo
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