My father would have been sixty years old. I wish we got to celebrate his birthday one more time. Although, this is that chance, isn't it, to celebrate him? Celebrate my Dad's life...It's bittersweet. I want to honor my father...and let the light of his life flare before all of you. I hope to do him justice.

My father's tale begins when he was born into what would become a large family with six siblings. Dad had many stories to share from that time that always left my brother and I wide-eyed and bewildered: how Dad lived in an allegedly real fear of gypsies finding them alone and kidna...