To family and friends,

To you, I am known as Lisa; to my father, I was known as Lisa Marie; seldom did my father call me Lisa.  My brothers and I were raised by our parents to have high morals, values, be disciplined; and to respect them as well as others, be a strong confident and a great leader, work hard, and accomplish any goals we set out to achieve in our lives, and live life to the fullest.   My father had high standards for us and expected my brothers and I to follow my mom and his rules, expectations and high standards; with my father, I knew he loved me unconditionally no matter what I did, and he would always be there for me as well as for my brothers.

My heart is broken with the loss of my Father as I was extremely close to him. There was never day I did not speak to my father.  There is not enough words to express how I feel and about my father.   What I can say/write is: I have GRATITUDE of having an amazing father and that he was everything I could ask for has a father.  I am grateful for the time I had with him.

 At the age of 6, my father gave me my team jersey number of 20 when I first played sports; So from the of age 6 to my college years playing any sport played on a team my sport jersey number was always number 20.  Throughout the years, I am often seen wearing a team jersey with the number 20 on it while having fun playing sports and thinking of my father.

Having a coach as a father was great; especially having access to gymnasiums and having the best access to sport equipment.  Very seldom did my father miss a game I played. My father and I loved and enjoyed playing any sports together, especially Basketball.   I became the athlete I was because of his coaching me, and I was able to receive Athletic Scholarships to attend College and receive degrees.  I am truly thankful to my fathers’ coaching and to him.   

 I always enjoyed spending time with my father, especially going to father and daughter dances together any time we had a chance, going to all sport games, my fondest memory with my Dad is playing Hockey with him.  My father was a natural athlete who loved playing all sports and was great at all sports. 

I knew whenever my father had his whistle around his neck, and he blew his whistle, I knew his game was on and I better be ready for the sport we were playing.  Playing Hockey with my father was a time we bonded the most and we could enjoy the love of being on the ice together and I got to share something not too many people did with my father as he seldom let others know he liked and enjoyed playing hockey and he was an excellent ice skater.  It was an opportunity for me to spend time talking to my father, and to see my father have fun, have laughter, and let his athletic competitive side down.  

My father will always have a special place in my heart, be forever be remembered, and deeply missed.