My father recently passed at the ripe age of 85 and I want to take a few moments to reflect on his life and how grateful I am for him.
Reflections On My Dear Father
My dad, Ronald, was born at the tail-end of the Great Depression, just months before Nazi Germany invaded Poland, the Moltov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed, and the Manhattan Project began.
He witnessed so much over his lifetime but what I witnessed was a man of integrity, character, faith, and perseverance.
My father grew up in Chicago, but moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s to attend UCLA (a university I would later attend as well). He studied math and began teaching in the early 1960s, then spent the next 45 years teaching subjects ranging from algebra to calculus.
He taught at the public high school in our town and also at the community college. I’m amazed at the remarkable discipline and patience he had; not just with my brother and me, but also with his students. As the father of two myself, I see now more than ever just how remarkable his character was in remaining calm even when life went sideways.
He was a quiet man. An emotional man. A selfless man. Rather than indulge himself, he gave his money away…to charity, to friends and family in need, and to my mother, brother, and me.
Instead of going out with the boys at night, he was home every night and invested hours in helping me (try to) understand math (never my strong subject) and spending time reading and in prayer.
My father’s decline was somewhat gradual and I sensed last year that while he was still healthy and able to travel, it might be his last trip. We had an amazing time in Washington, DC together and I am so very thankful for that trip. It ultimately was his last major trip. His last flight.
> Read More: A Father-Son Trip To Washington, DC
At age seven, my father lost his own dad to a heart attack. I’m thankful I had 30 extra years with mine and that my son had seven years with his grandfather.
Today, I’ll be offline the rest of the day at his memorial service, which I hope will bring honor to him and to the God he placed his faith in.
If your father is still alive, tell him how much you love him. I am thankful I have no regrets with mine: we enjoyed a remarkable relationship and he was the kind of man I still aspire to be.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26
I’m glad you had so much time with him during your lifetimes, and made the most of it!
Lovely post. My sincere best wishes to you and yours.
May your dear father Rest in Peace and Love… may he be welcomed Home
May his memory always be a blessing and a comfort to all.
+1
Dear Mathew,
What a lovely tribute to your Dad. Well said!
A lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing.
Praying for your family at this tremendous loss.
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. You wrote a beautiful tribute.
Sorry for your loss. I’m glad for the years and memories you had with him.
What a wonderful tribute and thank you for sharing.
Condolences to you and your family, Matthew.
My condolences to you and your family, Matthew – we will be praying for HIS peace.
Condolences Matthew. Glad for the time you and your children had with him.
My condolences to you and your family. Those of us who enjoy your blog and appreciate you are also thankful for the father you had and who helped make you into being who you are. May he rest in peace and may you continue to do him proud.
A wonderful post. My condolences and thanks for all that you are.
I’m so glad you’re left with amazing memories and love. Sorry for your loss. May be rest in peace.
Wonderful and humane post. My condolences to you and your family. Sadly, hits very close to home…
So sorry to hear of your loss.
Trump is much hated but he will likely keep the current estate tax rate. Harris was going to let the current rates expire (scheduled expiration is the end of 2025) so many with a modest California home would keep it but the rest of their retirement seized by the IRS at a 40% rate and, some states, like Washington would seize an extra 10 to 20%, making it a total of 50-60% seized. If the house was worth more than 3 million, some of the house would be seized unless payment made.
That is in keeping with making the rich pay their fair share.
Consider having Kyle or your readers write some guest columns this week.
You might be right. But on this thread?
So sorry to read of your loss. My condolences to you and your family. What a wonderful post, and thanks for sharing so much on your Dad. I am sure he was extremely proud of you.
Here is a mention of his life and the memorial service:
https://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/obituaries/11/07/2024/ron-klint/
I am curious if your dad’s German was better than yours. Most of the Illinois/Wisconsin area German-Americans born even a decade before your dad no longer learned German as young kids because anti-German hysteria during WW1 had sort of already knocked out the popularity of teaching the kids German or using it in public in the area.
It’s not just that, my father’s Swedish parents had no kids knowing Swedish. They thought becoming Americans meant they should abandon their native tougne.
Many of the Norwegian migrants kept teaching Norwegian to their kids well into the 1920s and even into the 1930s in these parts, so Norwegian-speaking grandparents weren’t unusual for some of the people I grew up with. And same for the Dutch in these parts, as the Amish and Mennonites kept it up. German ended in these parts for a completely different reason than Swedish and other languages in these parts.
So sorry for your loss. My husband and me lost out fathers when we were teenagers…
My father is 74 but still going strong. Yet this post reminds me of the fragility of life and the inevitable fact that all parents pass away.
Very sorry for your loss Matthew
I’m very sorry for your loss, Matthew. Thank you for the heartfelt tribute. It says a lot about him, and you.
Very well done and classy, Matthew. A lesson for all of us. Thank you for posting this.
I am sorry for your loss Matthew, and you must take comfort in knowing how much you meant to him, and the treasured moments you shared together.
I am so sorry for your loss, Matthew.
I am so sorry for your loss Matthew. Keep the great memories and share them with your kids so they can keep them alive.
Rest in peace
My condolences Matthew, what I learned from losing my father is it can be one of the most isolating experiences not because people don’t care most western cultures don’t know how to support grief and loss . Please know we are here for you and your post is a beautiful tribute
Sorry for your loss
I too was able to take one final flight with my dad to surprise his sister at her 78th birthday. One never gets over losing a parent, you can only try to live with it the best you can. As somone once said:
“As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.”
Sorry about your loss Matthew.
A lovely tribute to a man of faith.
Jesus Christ. Lord. Savior. Messiah.
Condolences to you and your family, Matthew.
What a blessing to have a father who loves the Lord and set a Godly example and that you are able to live with expectation of seeing him again
Sorry to hear this, I know the pain of losing your father, but what a lovely post, well said. Thoughts are with you and your family at this time, and may his memory be a blessing.
I’m sorry for your loss. He sounds like a great guy, much like my own father, who is nearing the end of his life. Peace be with you and your family.
You have honored your father with this kind loving tribute. Good on u.
He’s your angel now and will be with u where ever you travel.
Beautiful tribute. RIP
Condolences, I wonder if his former students are readers here and now realize the connection. Teachers like him are the best – pragmatic and appreciative. No social agenda in the classroom.
Well said…well said!
What a touching and amazing post written for your father. Condolences for your loss.
You had a wonderful father who prioritized you over himself. Sorry for your loss.
I am sorry for your loss; may his memory be eternal.
So sorry for your loss
May he Rest in Peace.
Sorry for your loss, and condolences to you and your family. Lovely post that brought memories of my late father too. Blessings
My condolences. He seemed like a great fellow.
My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with the Klint Family during this season. May you find comfort and peace knowing Mr. Klint lived a fulfilled life and is resting in the arms of His Savior. We will certainly see Him on the other side.
May God Bless you, and keep you.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 5:4
I am sorry very sorry for your loss Matthew – may your father’s memory be a blessing.
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
So sorry for your loss Matthew. RIP.
Thank you for sharing with us the love for your Father. I know he is very proud of you.
Heartfelt condolences for your loss. All the best today with your celebration of his life and homegoing.
Beautiful tribute to your wonderful father ❤️
So beautiful Matthew! Very thankful for your dad – for your family. Love you all. We know we will see him again – and we find so much joy in that – I know you do too -but that loss here on is now – and hugs and love to you and yours.
It is so hard to lose someone who has been there every day of your life. The pain will ease and be replaced with the joy of his memory.
My condolences to your family. Thanks for sharing your father’s story.
My condolences to you and your family, Matthew.
I don’t know if you know or authorized it, but I saw a picture of you and your dad on MSN.com about how seniors can fly business class cheap. The article wasn’t about you or your dad it seems they just use the pic that you posted in your article about you dad’s passing. I clipped a snip of the pic and can send it to you if you want, I just don’t know how to get it to you. My condolences on your dad’s passing.
Please accept my condolences. I lost my father on the last day of August 2006. However I am doing some caretaking activities for my mother who is still living at the ripe old age of 96.