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This got me choked up-from Facebook-- why we had the fundraiser
It has been just over a month since my son lost his beautiful and beloved father, a member of our family who lived with us in our home as partner and father to his son for seven years. Tony was a huge part of my family’s life for the last decade, and a tremendously important presence in his son’s life. I will miss talking to Tony every day on the flats… or the phone… or at the house… about everything under the sun. But it is heartbreaking to think of how I will miss sharing our son’s life, his ups and downs, his every little accomplishment or difficulty. Tony championed Anton and was his biggest cheerleader, filled with amazement and enthusiasm for everything he did. Anton lost his grandmother Helen Stetzko last winter, who, like her son, was thrilled by Anton and showered him with love. Along with my father, Anton has a huge cheering section on the other side… Tony and his son delighted in one another and adored one another. They did everything together. Tony was the kind of father who would put Anton to bed every night with wild stories and stuffed animal games – we would hear howls of laughter from behind the door. For dinner they would often escape to the deck or outdoor fire pit to devour steaks and blue crabs. Tony gave Anton fine art lessons, fishing charters, woodworking sessions, bowling and baseball practice, surfing clinics… the list goes on and on. Most of all he gave him endless love. My heart just aches for that boy. He misses his Papa. But you know, he’s a first grader – one minute he’s asking me to play baseball or racing me around the skating rink, and the next he is sleepwalking or waking up at all hours and covered with band-aids because every little thing hurts more than it should. Tony, we will never stop telling your stories, our stories, and the stories of your family. Thank you to everyone who prayed for Tony and continue to hold him in your hearts. His loss at this time is deeply painful and will always be.
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