In honor of Father’s Day, community members shared messages with the Palisadian-Post—from what they love most about their dads to favorite memories and more.
Avi Cunin
When I saw that the Palisadian-Post was collecting thoughts for Father’s Day, I felt like I had to share about my father, Rabbi Zushe Cunin. My father, “Tatty,” as we affectionately call him, is my role model.
In 1969, he was born and raised in Westwood Village, California. In 1992, he became the rabbi of Chabad in the Palisades and was joined by my mother in 1993. They began building a local Palisadian community filled with mutual caring and warmth in a small meeting room at the then Glendale Federal Bank, then grew to a storefront in the shopping center by Sunset and Monument, and are now at the beautiful Chabad Jewish Community Center at Sunset and Los Liones.
My father has taught me to dream big, not to allow naysayers to slow me down and to view every challenge as an opportunity to grow. He and my dear mom have raised my siblings and I to care about others, stand strong in what we believe and always look for ways to become better versions of ourselves.
I have learned from him that the tool to ridding pain and darkness is by being a shining light to others. As a recently ordained rabbi, I feel lucky and blessed to have my father as my role model and mentor.
Payton Whalen
My dad is a great friend and father. He makes great jokes and always knows when I need to be cheered up. I love playing soccer and volleyball with him. He has made me a great athlete, I am so glad he has been able to be my coach for so many years in AYSO.
I also look forward to his awesome pancakes every Sunday morning. He has helped me in so many ways, I could not have asked for a better dad.
Hanna Shin
10 reasons why I love my dad, Tae Shin:
- He can always solve any math problems I’m having difficulty with without Google’s help.
2. We love doing puzzles together.
3. He always has answers to any questions that I have.
4. He cooks the best ramen (my favorite!).
5. He always puts together homemade Halloween decorations and barely ever buys them.
6. Whenever we have nothing to do, he comes up with fun ideas or activities.
7. He is very supportive and encouraging in everything that I do.
8. He always listens and values my opinions.
9. He works long hours but he always manages to find time for me.
10. He loves me and my family more than anything else in this world.
Rachel Martin
I didn’t eat much fast food as a kid but every so often, my dad, Robert Martin, would take me down Sunset to the Jack in the Box that used to be there. We would share an order of curly fries and talk, just the two of us. Although we did a lot more hiking together than eating junk food, I will always think of him when I eat curly fries.
Katie, Christina, Laura and Annie
They say if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for life. Thank you for literally and metaphorically teaching us to fish. We’re so grateful for all you’ve done and continue to do, and we love you so much!
With love, Your four favorite daughters, Katie, Christina, Laura and Annie
Enzo Ricciardelli
I truly have a remarkable father, Raffaele Ricciardelli. Worked very hard all of his life, from a very young age, for his family. He then left it all behind in Italy for better opportunities for his three children. He did that international move with my adorable mom (married for over 64 years) when they were in their 50s, without speaking any English! That’s a HUGE sacrifice!
Selfless, loyal, devoted and … soon to hit 95 years old. Still very sharp, loving and restless … that is my dad, who I cherish very, very much. And am forever grateful! Tanti auguri papà (Happy Father’s Day).
Diana Daniele
“The ceremony was going to be beautiful. Il Cielo was known for hosting weddings, and had an arched gazebo on the patio for just that purpose. My father would walk me down the aisle; my blue-eyed, grey-haired Dad had teared up when I asked him, this big, bear-hearted man so moved to see his daughter happy and engaged in life again. I remembered my wedding day, when my Dad had told me, ‘Take it slow, Diana. This is our walk. Let’s make it last.’”
My laughing, loving father passed away in October 2012, almost six months to the day that he walked me down the aisle that second time. I miss Robert Huntley Foutz, a man among men, every day; I am grateful to have been his daughter.
Sarah Shmerling
This is the first year I have to face Father’s Day without my dad, Ronald Shmerling. We lost him in December 2020, a little more than one year after he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
He was the rock of our family—literally, the man was a geologist, and when he wasn’t cooking us family dinners or having us over to watch the Rams play, he would spend hours talking about his second love: geology.
His first love was family, and I use that term to cover the extended circle of close friends, his coworkers and my own friends that he considered to be a part of it. I know life is a bit harder for all of us with him gone, missing his sound advice, the traditions we celebrated and so much more.
My favorite things about him were his unwavering patience and encouragement. Since day one, he was my biggest supporter, always pushing me to pursue the life that I want to have.
Audrey Yael Smith
Every year in elementary school, I attended the daddy daughter dance. My father and I loved dancing all night, taking part in conga lines and trivia contests, and posing at the photo booths with glittery hats and boas. Those memories will always hold a special place in my heart.
Uma Ramaswami
I have the best dad in the whole world, and I am so excited to share about the things that I love most about my dad and what I love doing with my dad.
My dad always puts us before himself and I know that he would do anything for me. Once, I was feeling sick and my dad went to the store and got me cookies at 10 p.m.
My favorite things to do with my dad include playing cards, watching movies or sometimes doing face masks together. My dad also helps me or hangs out with me whenever I ask him.
No matter how busy he is, my dad will always put me first and drop all of his work.
This Father’s Day, we’re planning to cook for him, take him out to dinner and just give back to all of the work he puts in for our family. I love my dad so much and I don’t know what I would do without him.
Reagan Whalen
My dad’s name is Bryan and he always shows what a great dad he is in different ways. He is always coaching and helping me and my siblings in sports, including soccer, baseball and volleyball. He is always there to comfort us or tell us his advice on things that we can’t control.
Every night he sits on my bed and I tell him about my day, and he listens to everything. One of my favorite things is waking up on Sunday morning to my dad’s pancakes.
I hope he has a special Father’s Day.
Éva and Ella Engel
Our mom always taught us that families come in all shapes and sizes and colors. The first example we remember is when she explained that our friends, Jenn and Janel, were the mothers of their mixed-race children, Max and Simone. Janel is the biological mother of Max, Jenn is the biological mother of Simone, and both children have the same surrogate father. They are a family.
It’s why we call our closest friends our “family members,” like our Uncle Rob, our big brother Cowboy, our little brother Avett or our sister Kat.
So, there is no question who our father is. That would be Ro-Dad, 100%.
George “Rody” Engel came into our lives when we were 6 and 4 and, since then, he’s been the man who’s tucked us into bed every night. When he wanted to marry our mom, he got down on one knee in front of each of us, asked our permission and made promises to us. Before he put a ring on her finger, he put a family charm on each of our necks.
When Doris from Ralphs learned that we weren’t his biological daughters, she said, “Well, like they say, ‘You look like the one who’s raised you.’” We do resemble him and, more importantly, we were shaped by him. He’s the one who tells us to do our homework and clean our rooms. He’s the one who teaches us tennis and culinary skills. He’s the one who drives six hours each way to get us to and from summer camp. He’s the one who will walk us down the aisle one day.
When we talk to people about “our Dad,” we’re referring to him. He is our parent, our teacher (except for algebra), our coach and our best friend. He’s the one we have inside jokes with. He makes us laugh every day, and he is there when we need to cry.
Thank you for our family, Dad. Thank you for your love. Happy Father’s Day.
Love,
Crackers & Junior
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