Tribute to Dad 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.
I know some of you have read the book about my Dad’s life. Amazingly, The very last two words of the book are “joy and gratitude.” And that so beautifully sums up the essence of his remarkable life. To live life joyously and be thankful to God for every precious day.
The measure of a man though is not fame or riches or worldy success but how much did he love. And my Dad’s legacy of love is infinite. Especially for his family. His adored Alexandra, his children and grandchildren. And I must pay tribute to the lovely Lithuanian ladies who took such good care of him.
I can still see him in the last weeks of his life, sitting in his garden watching the children play in the pool. “I am so so happy ,” he said. “Isn’t this beautiful?”
And that’s how I will remember him. -- being grateful for all the wonderful gifts he was blessed with by God Almighty and expressing that gratitude with boundless joy.