09/08/2026
On August 23, I said goodbye to my dad.
Finding the words to share this feels impossible. I’ve been avoiding writing this because putting it into words makes it feel real. And I don’t think I’m ready for a world without you in it.
The past few years have been the hardest of my life. Becoming a mom, having both of my parents diagnosed with cancer, and slowly watching you get sicker while knowing I was going to lose you is something I never imagined I’d have to experience.
Losing you feels different than any loss I’ve ever known. You were there for every version of me. For the little girl I was, the woman I became, and now the mother I am. So much of who I am was shaped by you, often in ways I didn’t even realize at the time.
You taught me to work hard, show up for the people I love, keep going when things get hard, and believe in myself. You taught me to go for it, try things that scared me, and live life fully.
Some of my best memories with you were outside: skiing, surfing, sailing, paddling, and finding adventure wherever we could. I loved watching you navigate the mountain, making the biggest GS turns you could while I followed in your tracks.
You had a way of making everything feel like an adventure, whether you were teaching me how to drive, sharing a wave, waterskiing at 6AM, exploring somewhere new, or me hanging on to the front of your windsurf board just happy to be along for the ride.
I’m so grateful you saw me marry the love of my life. You watched me become a mother. You met Tiegan. You got to be her Grandpa Opi. I will always be grateful that we shared those moments together, even though the time feels unbearably short.
I am so proud to be your daughter. I am so lucky I got you as my dad. And I am heartbroken that I have to learn how to live without you.
But I know you will still be with me in every mountain turn, every paddle stroke, every wave, every song, and every adventure. In every moment I stop to appreciate the world around me and in every reason to smile.
A little bit of you will always be with me. ❤️🪽
I love you, Dad. I always will.
