Father’s Day brings back special memories of my Dad as well as my journey as a father to 2 wonderful daughters. This is a photo of my Dad as a young boy in California.

My father often visited his grandfather who was a country doctor in rural Missouri. The photo shows Dad on the left with his younger brother, Bob.

Childhood was challenging for the family as my Dad lost his mother to TB when he was 12 years old. The photo shows Dad with his sister and brother.

I’m sure I inherited my love of track from my father, shown here in the Alameda High School yearbook.

Hurdling at school. Dad always came to my track meets in high school to root me on.

Tennis became important to both him and my Mom as they were both accomplished players.

He joined the Army Air Corp during World War 2 and became a pilot.

He had a dry wit and of course an ever-present pipe in his mouth.

Dinner with my Mom at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley.

Family photo with my sister Patty.

I climbed onto the table during dinner at a Denver Hotel.

A picnic by the Russian River with my sister, Mom, Dad and my grandparents.

Fishing at Lake Temescal in Oakland. My grandfather was my rock growing up as my father was often gone due to military assignments.

With my brother Gary at 2 weeks old.

Dad’s reserve unit was called up during the Korean War.

Dad piloting a C-119 aircraft out of Frankfurt, Germany.

Backyard photo with Dad and Gary in Pleasant Hill. I was a senior in college at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

With our daughter Stacy on a visit.

Mom and Dad loved cats!

This is a memory that really stands out for me. He loved barbequing chicken in the backyard with his plaid bermudas, shirt off, and of course his pipe.

Dad loved watching the “boat drags.” On our visits to California we would always try to go with him. The races were adjacent to the Oakland International Airport and were notoriously dangerous for the blown fuel hydroplanes and nitro-burning flat-bottom boats in the 1970s.

One of our favorite activities on our California trips were picnics at Samuel Taylor Redwood State Park in Marin County. Marla and I try to visit return here on almost every trip.

This was a photo of Mom and Dad with Lisa & Stacy while recuperating from a heart attack. He passed away at 57 years old two years later in 1978.

I really miss my Dad! Sadly, he fought many personal demons which made his later life complicated and difficult. I can still hear his voice and remember the smells of his pipe…and Old Spice shaving lotion.

Photos: Property of Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.