Last week, on Wednesday August 11, 2021 at approximately 3:45PM Eastern, my Father left this world.  Much too early.  Covid took my Father from me, my family, and his grandchildren.  He had some underlying issues, but Covid is what pushed him over the edge.   Covid put him on a ventilator when nothing else worked.  If you remove Covid, he’d still be here, enjoying his retirement, traveling with his wife, and spending time with family and grandchildren.

He did the right thing. He got vaccinated. He was immuno-compromised from other health issues. We discovered too late that those treatments destroyed any anti-bodies.

He was my rock, absolutely one of my best friends and I am shattered beyond measure.

My Dad, Duke, was a great man.  20 years of service in the United States Air Force, distinguished pilot and aircraft commander of the FB-111 Aardvark, flight instructor on T-37 Tweet and my one of my favorites, T-38 Talon.  He loved woodworking, golf (oh he loved golf!) and living life to it’s fullest.  He taught me about family, honor, respect, how to be a good dad to my own kids and countless other things.  Dad also never turned down sampling bourbon, delicious food, or a new adventure.

I am truly the man I am today because of him. I am grateful beyond measure for that.   I miss him terribly.

Some members of the #sqlfamily got a chance to meet my Dad.  He had joined me at a couple #sqlsaturday events in years past, namely in Nashville as it was an event we could easily drive to.  He loved the SQL Community and he loved that I was a part of it.  He was actually considering putting together a presentation and we were going to travel together to other events, speaking Father & Son.  Unfortunately, that won’t happen now.   Thanks to all of those who welcomed him and made sure he felt apart of the community.  He got to sit in the speaker rooms with me and talk to friends and colleagues and he had a ball every single time he did.  He loved those trips and spoke of them often.

There’s even a Twitter hash for him, #JohnsDad.  He was a part of #sqlfamily.

He was a good sport and was always up for a laugh.

Dad truly believed living life by the moto: Love, Laugh, Live.  So say we all.

If You Wear a Mask

Thank you.

Wearing a mask costs us next to nothing and it’s the right thing to do.  Continue to wear your mask.  Just because you are vaccinated doesn’t mean that you can’t contract the virus or spread it to others.

Continue to wear your mask, please.  For me.  For Dad.

If You Don’t Wear a Mask

If you do not believe in masking up to protect others from Covid you dishonor him. If you dishonor him, you dishonor me.

It’s possible that my Dad died because of people like you.  I don’t know and I’ll never know.  All because you do not want to wear a mask.

If you don’t want to wear a mask for yourself, then wear one for others. After all, the Father you save could be your own.  I wish you could have saved mine.

Don’t let my Dad’s death be in vain.  Mask up.  Please.  If not for me, then for him.

Take one step further and get vaccinated.  Getting vaccinated helps to protect those that can’t be protected and slows the spread of the virus.

For Dad.

I love you Dad.

© 2021, John Morehouse. All rights reserved.

27 Replies to “For #JohnsDad”

  1. I’m very sorry to hear about your dad, John. Thanks for sharing, and please pass along my well wishes to your family as well. Sounds like you lost a great one. Hang in there, my friend.

  2. Your dad was always a bright spot, John. Everywhere he went and everyone he met couldn’t help but smile and laugh. Sending all the love to you and your family.

  3. Sorry to hear about your loss and heartbreaking. Your last few lines on advising people to wear mask is spot on. I hope people get it and start wearing masks.

  4. Sorry for your lost John! My sincere condolences to you and your family.

  5. John,
    I am sorry to hear of loss and more importantly the loss to the grandchildren. I was in the Air Force for 20 years and remember those 3 aircraft very well. Where I live in Tennessee they have lifted most of the mask mandates. I continue to were mine whenever I leave the house. I’m appalled that so many people think we have seen the worse of it. I will honor your dad as best as I can. To have served our country as a pilot with all the inherent dangers and get struck down by COVID is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with and your family.

  6. Hi John,

    I don’t have words for these unnecessary Covid deaths. I am very sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers.

  7. Sorry to hear that, which could be preventable .. May his soul rest in Peace.. Wish everyone has that sense that wearing a mask could save a life and not politicize it.

  8. You have helped me, John, and you don’t know me. I wish that I could help you here.

    I am sorry for your loss, and I thank the great man that was your father for his service protecting all of us.

  9. Sorry you lost your Dad. You two seemed to make a great pair. Thinking of you and staying masked up myself.

  10. As I was slowly cleaningout thousands of piled up emails that have collected since life overwhelmed me some years back, I came across a mention of this in BrentO’s weekly email. I do hope that I am not reopening an old wound with this message of condolence, but rather find you in a better place with respect to this staggering loss.

    I am sending my best wishes that 2022 is a year so good for you that it helps to push the pain of this loss well into the background. I do hope that I can catch up with you on the speaking circuit this year as well John!!

    Best,

    Kevin

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