With father’s day approaching, I thought it appropriate to dedicate today’s column to the dads in our lives. All the dads. The young dads, the old dads, the grandpas. The who are still with us, and the dads we miss every day. My dad is one of the latter.

My father taught me more about life than I could ever learn on my own. And for that I am forever grateful. He passed away in 2020 while suffering from Alzheimer’s – but even at the end of his life, I continued to learn from him. His wisdom and humor still shone through the disease.

My dad was also a veteran, and on Memorial Day I posted an eye-catching photo of his P-40 with a mention of his service as a flight instructor in the Korean War on Facebook – to honor him and all who served our country. Since many people in the community knew my father, I received a lot of comments.

One that struck a chord with me was, “Your dad was a great man. He was always smiling.” And I realized that this was true. His positive demeanor, the way he greeted everyone with a smile and a kind word, was one of his most admirable qualities. He was a joyous person.

Dad was also known for his sense of humor; he was quick with a joke – often at his own expense. In addition, he had the rare ability to make others feel that they were important to him – because they were. He treated everyone pretty much the same.

At the company he founded, he’d often walk around the factory chatting with the engineers, the guys in the machine shop, the receptionist, the janitor, the CFO – all with the same level of curiosity and respect. Longtime employees still tell me how much they loved and respected him because of how he made them feel. They tell me they felt like family.

That was just who he was. Dad had humble beginnings. The son of Italian immigrants, he had big dreams and became the quintessential self-made man. He was the definition of an entrepreneur. He was a loyal and loving husband to my mother. As a father, he was a role model for what it takes to succeed in business and in life. He taught us right from wrong.

He also showed us how to overcome struggles by overcoming his own. He taught us the importance of family by making us a priority. We saw first hand the fruits of hard work and the importance of giving back and having empathy for others. He modeled the behavior he wanted us to follow.

One of the most important pieces of advice dad gave me was, “know your strengths and weaknesses.” This bit of wisdom has helped me in countless ways throughout my life. By knowing what I’m good at, I can nurture talents and make positive contributions. By knowing my weaknesses, I can focus on how to overcome them, or turn to others with more expertise.

Years ago, when I was going through a personal challenge, dad told me, “I want you kids to know what it’s like to struggle a bit in life.” At the time, it didn’t make sense – why would a parent want their child to struggle? But now, with the wisdom of hindsight, it makes complete sense. To overcome a challenge is to become stronger.

Dad knew that in order to succeed in life, in order to appreciate the good things, to not feel entitled, we needed to experience hard work and sacrifice. We needed to be challenged.

He knew that the journey was what makes life rich and precious. He was not thwarted by setbacks, rather he saw them as a challenge – and seemed to always find a way around them – and if not, they made him a stronger, better version of himself.

I know that many people did not grow up with a father who was a good role model – or even a father at all. I also know that a father can be a role model to people besides their own children. I’d like to honor those fathers who rise to the challenge, who are there for their children and who leave them with wisdom that lasts beyond their lifetime.

I asked readers: What’s the most important thing your dad taught you?

Martha Yeakel: “To not be afraid to share your thoughts, feelings and opinions but also to respect those who may have other ideas different from yours. As an added thought, I am not always the best at following this especially in this day and age.”

Jo Anderson: “My Dad had many wonderful traits, but maybe one of his best was his patience. His patience came in very handy with having four daughters and one son. And also, only one bathroom.  I really tested his patience when he taught me to drive a stick shift, but somehow we both survived.”

Kent Gardner: “ Two hands on the steering wheel!”

Kathy Young: “Pay yourself first and when you get a raise put it toward your savings and investments.” But he also told me “If you want a tractor, go buy yourself a tractor! Life is short.”

Thomas Rae: “Dogged unflinching principle and respect for all.”

Frank Young: “Work ethic: he rarely, if ever stayed home sick and always had a part time job – and take care of your family.

Michael Lewis Street: “Geno never met a stranger. And ditto what Frank Young said about his dad. My dad retired two and a half years early with saved up hours from vacation, sick leave and personal time.”

Yvonne Redman: “ How to play golf! Thanks Daddy!”

Susan Holleman: “ Budgeting and saving money.”

Angela Reinhart: “My dad has taught me a thousand things without ever needing to say a word.

Through his years of service as a respected law enforcement officer, he showed me what integrity looks like — not just when people are watching, but especially when they aren’t. He taught me that doing the right thing might not always be the easy thing, but it’s always the right thing.

But beyond the badge, he taught me the kind of values that truly matter: discipline, kindness, loyalty, and love. He taught me to show up, to work hard, to honor commitments, and to never back down from standing up for others.

I am who I am because of who he is. A protector. A man of his word. A steady hand and a soft heart. And I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to live up to the example he set.”

Cheryl Olson: “The value working hard for what you want, that one’s word is worth more than anything else, and love of country.”

And my favorite, from my son Michael Prichard: “Dad taught me that mom is always right.”