My father died this morning

Matt McKeon

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
1,096
Reaction score
1,602
He was 92. He lost consciousness several days ago and died early today. Suffering from dementia, he has not been able to recognize anyone for a couple of years.

He was part of a huge Irish Catholic family that fought like cats and dogs. Weddings(I have dozens of cousins) often degenerated into arguments and occasionally brawls. I must say that they would close ranks against outsiders

He grew up poor in the Depression, not enough to eat poor, the poorest in a poor neighborhood and scrapped and fought with the best of them. He was determined to escape the circumstances and tried for college. A stint in the Korean War, and the G I Bill made him the first McKeon to attend college. He was a newspaper reporter for 15 years(he interviewed JFK once), and then switched careers to economic development and business. I grew up in a suburban house, with a lawn and cub scouts and school plays etc., my path to college was never in doubt. He was fascinated, or obsessed about his immediately past, and wrote a book about his parents and grandparents, and growing up in the Depression. He cared for my mother until she died. He really didn't have a purpose after that

Had some surprising aspects to his personality. He gave me volumes of Chekov, and Dostoevesky, when I was a teenager saying these books had been influential with him. I had never seen him read anything but a newspaper my whole life.
 

Nitti

charon's apprentice
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
282
Reaction score
263
You have our deepest sympathy for your loss.will say a prayer for you and your family in your time of sorrow.
 

Jim Klag

Ike the moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
3,690
Reaction score
2,296
Our deepest sympathy to you, Matt. He had a long and productive life it seems and this shoukd be some consolation. Our prayers are with you and your family.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
You have our deepest sympathy for your loss.
 

5fish

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
10,619
Reaction score
4,544
, when I was a teenager saying these books had been influential with him. I had never seen him read anything but a newspaper my whole life.
I never saw my mom ever read a book but she did read magazines all the time...
 

diane

that gal
Joined
Mar 18, 2020
Messages
2,412
Reaction score
3,045
Deepest condolences, Matt. Your dad's generation was a very remarkable one - and he sounds very special.
 

alexjack

zhe welsh wizard
Joined
May 17, 2019
Messages
184
Reaction score
193
I am very sorry for your loss Matt. My condolences for you and your family.
Dym yn meddwl amdanoch chi.
 

O' Be Joyful

ohio hillbilly
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
3,491
Reaction score
3,136
I just saw this, and I grieve along with you Matt. My Dad had dementia and passed 4 years ago on April 3. I now have to deal w/ it's progressing cruelty as "it" progresses with my Mother.

This time of year always reminds of his passing, but then I go out and look around and the flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping and fliting about and they make me smile.

I hear Dad now, he is telling me to get of my ass and that I need to go plant the tomatoes.
 

Matt McKeon

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Messages
1,096
Reaction score
1,602
I just saw this, and I grieve along with you Matt. My Dad had dementia and passed 4 years ago on April 3. I now have to deal w/ it's progressing cruelty as "it" progresses with my Mother.

This time of year always reminds of his passing, but then I go out and look around and the flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping and fliting about and they make me smile.

I hear Dad now, he is telling me to get of my ass and that I need to go plant the tomatoes.
I was going to post a "like" but that's not quite right. Thank you for your post.
 

Wehrkraftzersetzer

Hüter des Reinheitsgebotes
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
1,992
Reaction score
1,171
Dementia is slow and nasty death, even mentioning it is nasty, I rather die by the stroke, it is better for everybody else.
You can't offer condolences when it happens, You have to offer them when death is the redeemer.
So we do.
 

Joshism

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Messages
488
Reaction score
587
Escaped poverty, got an education, found a career, and raised a family. Lived the American Dream. Wonderful that he recorded his experiences.

Dementia is slow and nasty death, even mentioning it is nasty, I rather die by the stroke, it is better for everybody else.
And usually both depressing and exhausting for the family and caregivers over a long period of time.

There was a fellow a few years back I know of only by reputation who died at his desk of a massive heart attack or stroke. He was "only" 65 but he'd had a long, influential, meaningful career in historical preservation. I will take that in a heartbeat over a lot of the alternatives, especially Alzheimers or dementia.
 

O' Be Joyful

ohio hillbilly
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
3,491
Reaction score
3,136
And usually both depressing and exhausting for the family and caregivers over a long period of time.
But I will NOT give her up, no matter the cost to myself.

died at his desk of a massive heart attack
That would be my personal choice, but I WILL NOT GIVE UP THE SHIP as long as I can keep her headed towards safe harbor and there is a breath in my body. Once we are "docked" my job and debt will be payed.
 

O' Be Joyful

ohio hillbilly
Joined
May 12, 2019
Messages
3,491
Reaction score
3,136
P.S. I have found that a sense of humor helps. Look up Monty Python, ya' young whipper-snapper. :D
 

18611096

Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2020
Messages
46
Reaction score
55
He was 92. He lost consciousness several days ago and died early today. Suffering from dementia, he has not been able to recognize anyone for a couple of years.

He was part of a huge Irish Catholic family that fought like cats and dogs. Weddings(I have dozens of cousins) often degenerated into arguments and occasionally brawls. I must say that they would close ranks against outsiders

He grew up poor in the Depression, not enough to eat poor, the poorest in a poor neighborhood and scrapped and fought with the best of them. He was determined to escape the circumstances and tried for college. A stint in the Korean War, and the G I Bill made him the first McKeon to attend college. He was a newspaper reporter for 15 years(he interviewed JFK once), and then switched careers to economic development and business. I grew up in a suburban house, with a lawn and cub scouts and school plays etc., my path to college was never in doubt. He was fascinated, or obsessed about his immediately past, and wrote a book about his parents and grandparents, and growing up in the Depression. He cared for my mother until she died. He really didn't have a purpose after that

Had some surprising aspects to his personality. He gave me volumes of Chekov, and Dostoevesky, when I was a teenager saying these books had been influential with him. I had never seen him read anything but a newspaper my whole life.
my mother's side of the family is devout Irish Catholics so I can relate to what you say. sad to say I don't think he will be allowed to fight anymore in heavan. perhaps Jesus would make an exception for the Irish.
 
Top