Ronald V. Stephens Times
Happy 80th Birthday Dad from your four daughters! A milestone birthday for anyone tobe sure ,but an extraordinary one for you. And why might that be??? It just might havesomething to do with the way you have lived those 80 years. Themeasure of that comeswe believe in large part by taking a look at the family you haveraised, the friends you havemade and the careers you have influenced along the way.It’s been said by many that living in a household full of females isn’t the easiest thing inthe world, but, you always made it look easy. You know each of us so well. You knew thatbaby Deansocould not be woken up to do chores with the rest of us on Saturdays, thatDebbie had the persistence to take you on head to head, that Denise could manage thebusiness of the family and that Nancy, well Nancy could give youthe best advice you nevertook but always listened to! It wasn’t until we were on our own and especially as we watchour adult children go out into the world that we could truly appreciate how unique ourfamily experience has been and continues to be. From our Sundaytrips to Uncle Steve andAunt Rita’s or the Conway’s home when we were children, our weekend jaunts to visit theProcaccinisand Valentinosin Long Island to the cottages in Brimfield and Columbia, andthe 44 year tradition of annual Misquamicutvacations, you and Mom built a family thatrelies on each other, loves each other, enjoys each other’s company and will always supporteach other. We can’t name another family where Grandpa and Nana added yet one morebedroom and one more crib onto their 10 week summer cottage so the four daughters, son-in-laws and 12 grandchildren could be together whenever they wanted.You installed in each one of us a love for learning and an expectation that we weretalented, blessed and expected to make a contribution to this world. To that end you havechildren and grandchildren who are nurses, engineers, CPAs, economists, sales executives,social workers, consultants and with still more in study. Each and every one of us has beeninfluenced by the example you set. Your grandchildren and children alike have strong workethics, self discipline, motivation, passion and a desire to make you as proud of us as weare of you!And always there is the food!!! From the lobsters we had as kidsto the lobsters we havetoday, from the fryolateryears to the chicken soup, meatloaf or spaghetti, there is alwaysa meal on the table at the Stephens house. Though you still have not met a vegetable that you think is worth eating you have always loved putting the mealon the table and we havebeen the grand beneficiaries!!For all you are Dad and all you have sacrificed to make our lives wonderful we thank youand wish you the very happiest of birthdays!!!
Love YouDad!
Leave a Comment