BIG DADDIES; FATHERS AND OTHERS WHO LEAD, INSPIRE, DO THE DIRTY WORK AND MORE.Byline: Carol Bidwell Daily News Staff Writer Remember that '70s sentiment: ``Any man can be a father; it takes someone special to be a daddy''? More than 80 Daily News readers wrote to tell us just how special their dads are. We got letters - too many to quote from them all - praising fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other men who play the role of dad. All those honored go beyond the call of fatherly fa·ther·ly adj. 1. Of, like, or appropriate to a father: fatherly love. 2. Showing the affection of a father. adv. In a manner befitting a father. duty not only to provide the material things their families need, but to coach sports teams, help with homework and housework, and provide hugs and kisses For the XML format, see . Hugs and Kisses is a term for a sequence of the letters X and O, e.g. XOXO, typically used to express affection or good friendship at the end of a written letter or email. . Here are some of the special dads we salute today: Dads who go the extra mile Connie Carbajal of Arleta says husband Albert is ``best friend, daddy, coach, godfather, housekeeper, cook, gardener, wind beneath our wings ... How often do you find a dad who carries your infant daughter in a carrier while mowing mow 1 n. 1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored. 2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn. the lawn?'' Jessica Sheeley says grandfather Darryl Saraga of Reseda has been a father to her and her brother since their dad died. Working nights at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , Saraga ``works on the house, does yard work, fixes the cars. During the summer ... he still finds time to take all of his family to Baja California Baja California, state, Mexico Baja California (Span.: bä`hä kälēfōr`nyä), state (1990 pop. 1,660,855), 27,628 sq mi (71,576 sq km), NW Mexico, on the Baja California peninsula. Mexicali is the capital. .'' Arlene Aiello of Studio City says her husband, Ricky, shows his love for their son and daughter daily. ``He ... makes them breakfast. He bathes them and ... does their hair, ... takes them to school, volunteers in the computer lab every week, builds them tree houses and hangs tires from the branches. He plants sunflowers with them and watches in amazement as they grow.'' When it comes to taking care of kids - including a hyperactive hy·per·ac·tive adj. 1. Highly or excessively active, as a gland. 2. Having behavior characterized by constant overactivity. 3. Afflicted with attention deficit disorder. child with learning difficulties and asthma - Gerald Curtis of Northridge is a whiz, says wife Carol. Now that their four kids are older, he is ``rarely too busy to shoot a few baskets, dance in the living room, push them on the tire swing, take them bike riding or play tag.'' Dads who overcome physical challenges Olivia, Veronica and Julian Gonzalez of North Hollywood said their dad, Guadalupe, ``is always there for us ... Our dad has kidney failure kidney failure or renal failure Partial or complete loss of kidney function. Acute failure causes reduced urine output and blood chemical imbalance, including uremia. Most patients recover within six weeks. , but he never complains about feeling sick. He is always happy - and that makes us happy.'' James M. Lofland of Lancaster broke his toe while moving, but ``he worked with a broken toe so we would have money for my birthday,'' wrote daughter Catie. Mary Brennan Mary Brennan (born May, 1954) in Valparaiso, Florida. Brennan previously served as a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. She currently lives in Pinellas Park, Florida with her family. of West Hills says her son, Tim - father of three kids ranging in age from 7 to 14 - has been through two surgeries and skin grafts since being diagnosed with a malignant melanoma Malignant Melanoma Definition Malignant melanoma is a type of cancer arising from the melanocyte cells of the skin. Melanocytes are cells in the skin that produce a pigment called melanin. in November. Despite ongoing treatments, he continues to work, and ``never misses Sean's soccer games, Carinne's school plays or Juliana's musicals.'' Elizabeth M. Hess of Castaic says her dad, John, is a paraplegic paraplegic /para·ple·gic/ (-ple´jik) 1. pertaining to or of the nature of paraplegia. 2. an individual with paraplegia. but still fishes the Bassmasters circuit and takes his two kids fishing. ``He's an excellent father because he is not a giver-upper.'' Hard-working dads Jean Farber says her son-in-law, Brad Valansi of Granada Hills, ``works two jobs every day, comes home and helps around the house, mows the lawn, cleans the pool, plants flowers and helps my (three) grandchildren with homework.'' Dads who `made do' Both Michelle Gergen and Moira Phillips praised their dad, Jim Gergen of Chatsworth, father of six and grandfather of 12. ``Growing up, we didn't have the kind of money for the latest in new toys, but we didn't go without,'' Michelle said. ``My father built our playhouse and the furniture to go inside. And 37 years later, his grandchildren still play with his gift.'' Elvin Beckner, now a patient in the Sepulveda Veterans Hospital with Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism, degenerative brain disorder first described by the English surgeon James Parkinson in 1817. When there is no known cause, the disease usually appears after age 40 and is referred to as Parkinson's disease. , was also a hands-on kind of dad, recalls daughter Linda Beckner-Bowers of Canyon Country. ``He always made sure we had lots of things to play with, most of which he made by hand such as pogo sticks, hula hoops hula hoops large plastic hoops revolved around body by hip action (1950s). [Am. Hist.: Sann, 145–149] See : Fads , skateboards, go-carts and mini-bikes. When the ice cream man came on summer afternoons, my dad always paid for every kid on the block. When we went camping or on Sunday drives, every extra kid we could carry in the car went along.'' Dads who inspire Thomas Shaw Thomas Shaw is the name of several notable people
Kuldip S. Mundi of Encino brought his family from India to take advantage of American education, wrote daughter Navdeep K. Mundi, now a physician. ``He has instilled impeccable morals and ethics into his children,'' she said. ``He has taught all of us the high value of education, for nowhere else in the world, he says, can you really be what you want to be.'' Steve Cohen For other persons with a similar name, see . Stephen Ira "Steve" Cohen (born May 24, 1949) is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing Tennessee's ninth district. of Calabasas, the father of six, ``has taught us of love, given us opportunities to grow and has touched us with a warmth that should be admired by other fathers,'' wrote daughter Lisa. ``Going through a divorce, he managed to keep our family unit together for the holidays, celebrations or weekend barbecues. He is our inspiration and the reason behind my smile.'' Mike Appell One dogged dad nabs AWOL bear text What kind of a guy would spend two hours pulling bags of stale popcorn, sticky candy wrappers and syrupy soft-drink cups out of a movie theater trash compactor in search of a lost teddy bear? A dad, of course. When Lindsay Appell, 4-1/2, left Bear Bear, her ``lovey,'' behind after seeing a Barney movie with dad, Mike, in April, he figured it would be a simple matter to return and get the stuffed toy stuffed toy stuff n → Stofftier nt . No such luck. Somehow, it had gotten swept up with the trash on the theater floor. Forty-two bags of trash later, Mike Appell struck pay dirt: a sticky, wet, smelly bear. But one that was little the worse for wear after three trips through the washing machine (storage) washing machine - An old-style 14-inch hard disk in a floor-standing cabinet. So called because of the size of the cabinet and the "top-loading" access to the media packs - and, of course, they were always set on "spin cycle". . ``My daddy got Bear Bear back,'' Lindsay said, clutching the bedraggled toy she's had almost since birth. ``And daddy plays games with me and reads to me. And gives piggyback piggyback 1. A broker trading in his or her personal account after trading in the same security for a customer. The broker may believe the customer has access to privileged information that will cause the transaction to be profitable. 2. rides.'' For Appell, 36, a computer programmer who works out of his Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. home, his wife and children are what life's all about. Barbara Appell, 35, said her husband of seven years puts Jennifer, 2-1/2, to bed every night with a story, then goes to Lindsay's room for an elaborate good-night ritual in which he plays each of the characters in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, voices and all. ``He's great with them,'' she said. ``I love having fun and playing with my children,'' said Appell, cuddling with the girls on the sofa while a cartoon played on TV. ``I come from a big family, a close family, and my family's important to me. And Bear Bear's very important to Lindsay. I was so happy to find him for her.'' Russell Jenkins Need a father? He's right there Visit Russell Jenkins' Northridge condo and you never know how many kids you'll find inside, eating grilled cheese sandwiches A grilled cheese sandwich, (also known as cheese toasty or toasted cheese sandwich) is a form of toasted sandwich that consists of two slices of bread and at least one slice of cheese melted in between. , playing Nintendo, talking football plays or just hanging out. Jenkins, 30, an accountant for a music publisher who doubles as a supervisor at the local YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. , ``takes in kids like stray cats The Stray Cats are a rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer (Bloodless Pharaohs/Brian Setzer Orchestra) with school friends Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. and cares deeply about the welfare of them all,'' a friend who asked to remain anonymous wrote the Daily News. In addition to kids he tutors in track and football at the Y, the former semi-pro football player now has custody of his two daughters from a former marriage - Danielle, 9, and Amanda, 6. And in October, when he weds fiancee Tracey Peterson, 26, the family will be complete. ``These (girls) are my angels,'' said Jenkins, who balances strict rules about doing homework and keeping bedrooms clean with roughhousing and play when the work is done. ``I want to teach them, to bring them up right. My dad was away in the military, so my mom taught me by example, and that's the most important thing because kids are always watching. You have to be firm but be gentle.'' Danielle said her dad is fun to be around. ``He cooks sometimes - hot dogs and spaghetti. And he does my homework with me. And he braids my hair.'' One recent evening, Cory Driskill, 7, and his brother, Jordan, 9, were part of the group around the dining room table. ``Their father lives in Virginia,'' Peterson said of the neighbors who know Jenkins through the Y. ``And Russell's the role model for these guys. He's just a natural with kids. He's a big kid himself.'' ``I try to teach them about being gentlemen,'' Jenkins said. ``I just enjoy being with children - mine and everybody else's. I just couldn't be happier.'' Paresh Ruparelia Staying home is no chore When Pravina and Paresh Ruparelia became parents for the first time three years into their 10-year marriage, they decided both would have to make an equal effort. Despite working a 1 p.m.-to-1 a.m. shift as a manager at a membership warehouse store, Paresh pitched in with a fervor uncharacteristic of many husbands. At 6:30 a.m., as Pravina, 34, flies out the door on the way to her job as an accountant for a Van Nuys auto dealership, Paresh, 36, is getting son Ajai, 4, and daughter, Unjalee, 7, up and ready for the day in their hilltop Moorpark home. He makes his daughter's lunch, braids her hair, often irons her Brownie uniform, and drives her to school before heading to work himself. (After three years of sleep deprivation sleep deprivation Sleep disorders A prolonged period without the usual amount of sleep. See Driver fatigue, Poor sleeping hygiene, Sleep disorders, Sleep-onset insomnia. , he recently took a demotion de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. and got a shorter work shift so he could spend more time at home.) After work, he does laundry, starts dinner and entertains the kids with an impromptu soccer game in the back yard. ``He does a lot for the kids,'' said wife Pravina. ``I work with a lot of women who are married, and they do everything at home. They say, `I can't believe your husband does all that!' But the only way we can have kids and me still work is to keep things 50-50. He does so much for the kids.'' ``He's the best daddy in the world,'' chimed in Unjalee. ``He watches cartoons with us. And he braids my hair better than Mom.'' ``When you're married, the first thing you have to think about is the kids,'' Paresh said. ``You have to spend time with them, teach them. You have to be strict. They know what's allowed; they don't get whatever they want, and they never throw a tantrum tan·trum n. A fit of bad temper. tantrum, n a sudden outburst or violent display of rage, frustration, and bad temper, usually occurring in a maladjusted child or immature or disturbed adult. . And we have a good time together.'' Peter Hernandez Single parent makes the time For the past five years, Peter Hernandez, 49, of Sun Valley has been both a mother and a father to his brood of four little ones young children. See also: Little , while offering fatherly advice and support to five older children. Hernandez's second wife walked out on him just a month after giving birth to her fourth child, 5-year-old Kesley. When he went to the county social services social services Noun, pl welfare services provided by local authorities or a state agency for people with particular social needs social services npl → servicios mpl sociales office to ask about help with the children, he was advised to quit his job, stay home and collect welfare payments. ``I said, `No, I have to work. It's what I do,' '' said Hernandez, who's been employed since 1974 as an inspector for a Sun Valley aircraft parts manufacturer, checking parts for planes and the space shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. . Making life harder was the January 1997 drive-by shooting drive-by shooting Public health A phenomenon in which one or more persons–commonly members of street gangs, open fire à la Al Capone from moving vehicles, often in retaliation for an alleged wrong-doing by a rival gang of his son, Keith, who had earned a scholarship to Stanford University Stanford University, at Stanford, Calif.; coeducational; chartered 1885, opened 1891 as Leland Stanford Junior Univ. (still the legal name). The original campus was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. David Starr Jordan was its first president. , just two weeks short of his 18th birthday. The funeral expenses and the cost of the funeral plot put Hernandez behind in his mortgage payments and he lost his house. He's now living in one room with his four youngest - Kevin, 6; Kimberly, 8; Mercedes, 9; and Kesley - while searching for more suitable housing. Despite money and housing problems, Hernandez is a great dad, say his kids, who also include Kenny, 15; Engelbert, 21; Anna, 24; and Jesus, 25. How does he do it? ``I have no idea,'' Hernandez said with a big grin. ``I just manage somehow. I've never thought about not doing it.'' ``He's there for you, always,'' said Anna. ``He pushes you ahead, gives you the will to do things,'' said Engelbert. ``He's always turning negatives into positives.'' ``I was raised without a father,'' Hernandez said, hugging Mercedes. ``That's why being a good father is so important to me. I love spending time "Spending Time" is the first single released by Christian artist Stellar Kart. The lyrics describe the band members desire to spend "more time with God". "Sometimes it’s a real struggle to spend time with God. with my kids. That's all I can give them, my time and teaching them what I think is important: to stay in school and be good.'' Paul Clodfelter More daughters for beloved dad Sometimes becoming a dad isn't just a biological thing. That's the lesson Paul Clodfelter, 62, of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. learned when he and his wife, Sal-Lee, welcomed two little girls into their home 26 years ago. Less than a year later, they had their own biological daughter. Sandra, 31, and Brenda, 29, are the two adopted sisters; Suzie, born just months after they joined the family, is now 26. ``He's the best dad,'' said single mom Sandra Clodfelter, a Canoga Park resident whose daughter Chantelle, 7-1/2, lives with her grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl during the week so she can attend elementary school elementary school: see school. in Simi Valley. ``He was my labor coach when Chantelle was born. I always felt loved and supported, even though I didn't always appreciate it. And I grew up always being told I was chosen, I was special.'' Clodfelter, who works as an accountant for a major auto manufacturer's credit division, said it's always been important to keep his family close together with family dinners, barbecues, trips to Disneyland, cookie baking at Christmastime. And over the years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time family added another ``daughter'': a Japanese exchange student who lived with them, then returned to attend college in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . When she married recently in the United States, Clodfelter gave the bride away. Clodfelter, raised on a farm in Oklahoma, said his own father taught him the important things about being a good dad. ``You've got to be accepting of what your children are trying to do for themselves while trying to mold them into what you would like them to be,'' he said. ``But let them express their own individuality. And love them. That's what we did. And it worked out pretty well.'' CAPTION(S): 7 Photos Photo: (1--Cover--Color) A Day for Dads Valley fathers with something special (Appell family) (2--Color) Mike Appell horses around with daughters Jessica, 2-1/2, and Lindsay, 4-1/2, in their Thousand Oaks home. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News (3--Color) Russell Jenkins and daughters Danielle and Amanda are joined in the pile-up-on-dad game by neighbors Cory and Jordan Driskill, whose father lives out of state and who see the Northridge accountant as a role model. (4--Color) Paresh Ruparelia spends days playing with his children, Unjalee, left, and Ajai, and doing housework to take the burden off his wife, who works days. Gene Blevens/Special to the Daily News (5--Color) Peter Hernandez is a single parent to his four older children, Anna, Englebert, Kenny and Jesus; and his four younger ones, Kevin, Mercedes, Kesley and Kimberly. Another son, Stanford University-bound Keith, was killed in a January 1997 drive-by shooting. Tom Mendoza/Daily News (6--Color) Paul Clodfelter, 62, takes care of granddaughter Chantelle, 7-1/2, during the week so she can attend school in Simi Valley. (7) Paul Clodfelter, an accountant, shows granddaughter Chantelle how to dance via the tops of his feet as her mother, his daughter Sandra Clodfelter, looks on. Tina Gerson/Daily News 
Great article - was wondering where I could find the pictures that were attached ... |
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