Last week my grandfather passed away.

While my heart is pretty broken, day by day, as I remember the man he was, I find myself uplifted.

Whether it was the long discussions we had about my blog (which he called “blob”), the lessons he taught my siblings and me on the golf course, endlessly telling joke after joke, teaching us Yiddish, riding our bikes, slipping us candy that would rot our teeth, grazing at Costco, or his grunts, laugh, and smile. He had a way of making us all feel special, sharing with us the moments that mattered most, many of which were over pancakes and eggs.

Our Papa was the most loving person I’ve ever encountered. A doctor. A husband. A father. A grandfather. A role model. A best friend. A renaissance man. He brought joy to so many people, and although he is no longer here, his memory will live on in all of us. His success in life and the family that he built is a legacy that we will carry on. We owe who we are to him.

Thank you Papa. I love you.