Robert Chambers (1928-2006)

Sabrina and Dad, Father's Day 2006

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This charming gentleman was my father, who passed away on Wednesday, September 13. I'm still in shock that my father is gone, but I thought I'd write a post to honor him. My father had a heart attack while driving to the local grocery store, and passed away before they could get him to a hospital. The night before his death, he was sitting on his front porch with my mom because it had been a warm evening. My mother said that he was very happy and cheerful, and he said that if he died, he wanted to go right away, and he got his wish.

My dad will be remembered for his intelligence, smile, wit, charm, laugh, great sense of humor, personality, warmth, and generosity. He was extremely outgoing and friendly, and he'd talk to people everywhere he went. When I was younger, his speaking to total strangers often embarrassed me, but now I find myself doing the same thing.

Last year, we traveled together to Council Bluffs, Iowa where he grew up, and I had a chance to spend a week with my dad and my Aunt Ruth who is sharp as a tack at 85. He showed me where he grew up, and shared many of his happy memories with me. My aunt recounted how my father was born at home. She said that one day she came downstairs for breakfast, and there was a new baby at home, she hadn't even known that her mother was pregnant. I guess they didn't talk about that sort of thing back then. They had told her that a friend of the family had brought my father on the train to live with them!

My dad grew up during the Depression and I have a few photos of his family where they look like they walked straight out of The Grapes of Wrath. At the age of 17, he joined the US Navy right after WWII. He proudly served for 21 years, and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Shortly after retiring from the Navy, he settled in the Bay Area where he met and married my mom, and they were married for over 38 years. They of course had two daughters, my sister Anna and I. Sabrina, 7, pictured above is my dad's only grandchild. Luckily, my sister and Sabrina had been living with my parents, and Sabrina was lucky enough to grow up with my dad in her life.

He traveled the world, and shared many crazy stories of his travels to China, Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines, and beyond. An avid reader, he taught me to love the written word, although we really disagreed over reading material since he preferred reading about politics and what I deemed as conservative propaganda. :)

On Tuesday night, we held a vigil service for my father. The first person to arrive for visitation hours was Linda, a woman who worked at the grocery store that my dad went to every day, and he was on his way to that store when he passed away. Linda told us that her husband had been outside the store and saw people getting my dad out of his car and giving him mouth-to-mouth resusitation, and I was glad to hear that people were trying to help my dad. I don't know who those people were, but I would like to thank them for their kindness. I'm glad to know that he wasn't alone when he passed away.

Friends and family stopped by to say goodbye to my dad, and following the vigil service by Father Vincent, various people shared their fond memories and stories about how much my father meant to them, how kind and funny he was, and how he touched their lives.

Yesterday, we had a funeral mass for my dad at my parents' church, and many friends, relatives, and fellow parishioners came to say goodbye. That's the nice thing about community, people help to remember and honor those who are gone, and they comfort those left behind. Thanks to everyone who came to the vigil and mass, and to everyone who has written a card, email, or offered their condolescences in person. Thank you for your kind words.

I would like to thank my father for being such a great dad. I wouldn't be the person that I am now without my dad. He lived a good life, and was loved by many people. He will live in our hearts forever, and I miss him so much already. Goodbye Daddy, I love you.