Tribute to Dad

Joseph P. Kazickas (April 16, 1918 - July 9, 2014), Founder of the Kazickas Family Foundation
Joseph P. Kazickas (April 16, 1918 - July 9, 2014), Founder of the Kazickas Family Foundation



July 14, 2014, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton, NY

 


by Michael V. Kazickas

Good morning everyone and thank you all for coming.
First I want to thank all those who called, sent texts, emails, flowers, and comfort food and the dozens upon dozens of posting commiserating my dad. Foremost thank you Jim Rydell for the beautiful Facebook tribute to my father with the great photos. I was moved by the heartfelt email from Sandy Laughlin, the emotionally expressive phone call from the always gracious Carol Conklin, and to Jimmy Mak who stopped by my house the day after my Dad's passing to check up on me (and Beverly, Kiki, and Jack) and to just sit and talk...

 


by John A. Kazickas

I've often thought of this day, speaking to you at my dad's funeral, and thinking of what I would say, what words I could come up with to adequately describe my life with my dad, the person who was so much bigger than me, such a presence, such a force of good and love.   I would start to write something, using quotes from famous people, trying to find the right words, but could never get past a sentence or two, too upset to think about the day he would not be here...


by Joseph M. Kazickas

Thank you so very much to all of you for coming to celebrate my father’s life. Your paths have intersected today, to be here at this Church, at this point in time, to take part in this celebration, drawn here because of your own personal relationships with my father or for your connections to his family, my siblings, his grandchildren. My sincerest gratitude to you for caring to participate with us today. And Father Don, thank you.

So, as one might ask next, “What’s the takeaway here?"

What an extraordinary life...


by Jurate Kazickas

I never thought this day would come…I thought my beloved Tevelis would live forever. His sister Victoria reached 101 after all and cousin Felix was in his upper 90s.  And honestly, I don’t think Dad ever thought death would come either when it did. On his 95th birthday he said, Ten more years! He loved life too much to want to leave it...


July 14, 2014,  Reception at the Kazickas Residence on Egypt Ln, East Hampton, NY


by Sophie Kazickas, granddaughter

Tevelis, you showered each and every one of us with a beautiful love, and I thank you for that, because it was in those moments, where I learned how to love. You taught me the importance of love and happiness, and its relationship to family. Without happiness life would be incomplete, and without family we would be incapable of knowing what it felt like to be cared for unconditionally or what it felt like to care for someone unconditionally...