Michael James Garofalo (1/10/1916-4/2/1997)
My father, Michael James Garofalo, died on April 2nd, around 3 am in 1997.
He had a series of strokes, beginning in 1992, and then, due to complications from diabetes, increasing dementia, old age, inactivity, overeating, a broken hip from a fall, and congestive heart failure ... all led to his death.
In his youth, he was always strong, active, hard working, diligent, and demanding.
He built himself the three houses in which he lived, in starting in 1945.
He and my mom, June, raised three sons.
When he retired, at 62, he was the Chief Piping Engineer at the Fluor Corporation.
He was a Catholic believer. His outlook was conservative, Republican. He worked with all white men in a non-union workplace. He did not think well of people of other races and creeds. He thought all poor people were just lazy and stupid. Compassion and kindness were not high on his list of virtues. He also had a low opinion of women rights. His income was sufficient to provide for us when growing up.
I'd say he was an untreated manic-depressive. After he was 65, he resisted all my many recommendations to consult with better physicians or a counselor. He could be quite stubborn at times with not complying with medical recommendations.
He paid to send me to Catholic Schools, 1st to 12 grade. I was indoctrinated properly by nuns and priests. It was just "get good grades, study, obey, do what we say" everyday.
He liked to travel in the Western Regions and Deserts: Southern California, Nevada, Mexico, Utah, Arizona.
For more Information about my Dad.
He did not read very much. Listened to sports on the radio and right wing talk a lot. Not conversant much with modern thought, and viewed the 1960's changes a low class sinful rot. He spoke in stereotypes and racial slurs a lot. His Italian identity, was touted a lot. Also, he enjoyed bossing others around a lot.
After he retired, he mellowed a bit, and he was really a good grandfather with our two children.
My wife and I cared for him every day, he lived in a Granny Flat apartment next door. We helped him daily from 1993 to 1997.
Frankly, for me, he was hard to love or like at times very much.
I thank him for paying the way in my youth, providing for decent room and board, a good education, a safe home, and providing me with a useful inheritance from him from his final estate.
I'd say he was a decent father, a good provider, but a friend to few.
Yes, I loved my Dad - with Reservations.
