William Joseph Green, Jr.- 1939 – 2001

19 years since I have heard your laugh, the one that would take over a room.

19 years since I felt that squeeze of your hand in my shoulder before I entered the game, took the test or had to do something hard.

19 years since I have heard your beautiful strong voice singing next to me in church raising your prayers to the heavens with joy. Gosh I miss that voice.

19 years Daddy since I have held your hand, danced with you in the kitchen, had sword fights with golf clubs, a lesson on car or home maintenance or heard one of your fantastic tales from your childhood.

You were truly a Renaissance Man. An athlete, artist, scholar, naval officer during Vietnam, musician, attorney, husband, father and grandfather. I love you and miss you more each year.

You taught me to stand up for myself, speak with passion, love Jesus with my life and allow the Blessed Mother to help me along the way. Your faith never wavered, not even in your darkest hour.

The greatest lesson you taught me was to ask for forgiveness when I have hurt someone and to offer it when the tables were turned. You showed me how to do that time and time again as you battled your own vices and addictions which gave me the strength to face my own.

Perfection was never necessary to have a good and holy life you said. Only the desire to follow God and do as He asked. Sometimes we succeed but when we fall, you taught to get back up, dust off the past, hold my head high and walk with determination into the future. You did that your whole life.
.
In the end, when cancer came to call, you showed your wife and children how to die with strength and dignity. You fought for us to the end. I love you fiercely and I am proud to be “Joe Green’s Daughter”. Give my girl a hug for me Daddy and hold her close until I get there. Until we are together again…pray me home.