Tuesday, December 27, 2022
My dad is someone I always looked up to growing up, especially when it came to fixing things. Whether it was old-school tube Television sets, major household appliances, cars, heating systems, or industrial machines, there was nothing he couldn’t get working. He always amazed me that he could instinctively figure it out. On top of that, he taught me home repair/renovation, and of course, electrical work. From tagging along as a young child to the electrical side jobs he got, to renovating every aspect of the new home he and mom bought for the family, I grew up on power tools, doing home repair, and doing electrical work. This became things I love because of him. I was happy to watch and learn whatever he did, and try anything he wanted me to learn; except licking my finger and sticking it in a lamp socket to see if there was power (like they did in the old days).
Up until late senior year of high school, I was going to be an electrician; just like dad. When I said I wanted to take it a step further and go to college for electrical engineering, he beamed with joy (after the shock of what I said wore off). He always inspired me to give things a try.
I remember him for his technical abilities, his great patience, and his conveyance of being a proud dad whenever one of us kids did something good. I remember going to many Maxwell House company picnics and meeting numerous co-workers, and how everyone expressed what a great guy Bob Lisa was.
As an adult, after I did I get my college degree and then my electrician’s license, I remember taking him on electrical side jobs that I got, and the joy we had working together. He will always be in my memory.
In the last couple of years when he would get anxious and couldn’t calm down, he would call me. I’d have him tell me stories about his youth running around Hoboken, or our family excursions to Seaside Heights. I’d have him close his eyes, take deep breaths and visualize the calm ocean waves. This always seem to work. One time I had him visualize the walking on the boardwalk and seeing the sites, like boardwalk games and sausage sandwich stands. I heard him then call out “Hey Mary", He called out to mom and said "Jeffrey said to get me a sausage sandwich." That may be one of my everlasting memories of him.
I will miss him.
