My father was always there, he was my wise council, my friend, and my dad. I will always remember him as a thoughtful, willful, funny, and at times an audacious man. He travelled the world in the Navy when he was young and never lost his passion for learning, history, and travel. He inspired many of those same interests in me and encouraged me a teenager to visit new places around the world. I will always be thankful for the way he wanted me to be myself, to follow my curiosity. When as a child my imagination led me to dream of being an athlete or an artist, my father did all he could to support that vision. I don’t remember him ever once suggesting I couldn’t achieve something, he had total belief in himself and me. He had a different perspective on life, a way of seeing things that is rare. Though the direction of our lives has been very different, our mutual respect, support and desire to learn kept us close. There was never a week that went by that we did not speak. I will always remember his words of encouragement and love him deeply for all that he was. I couldn’t have wished for a better father, he will never be far from my thoughts.