When I think of Father’s Day I think of the men who have had a great influence on my life. I think of my late father John Vincent Hurtado, my biological dad. He was a pilot in the Air force, the life of the party, a man who drank from the cup of life every day. He taught me to believe in myself and to take from life what I wanted, always with a kind word and a smile on my face. I miss the good times with my fun loving Daddy. I also think of Lee Yokum, my step father. He taught me you could love more than one person and that you could love in many different ways. He married my mother when I was four and was there for all the day to day ups and downs, crises and triumphs. Now I also think of my husband Jorge Figueredo who is a great influence on my four daughters. He runs our house with a firm hand and lots of funny faces. I love to watch him teach my children everything from how to swing a baseball bat to how to settle an argument over blue Jell-O. He’s an active part of their lives from doing the math homework (I take the English) to attending very, very long dance recitals. He’s bandaged knees and also fixed a broken heart or two. Here’s to the men in my life. Happy Father’s Day.

-Linda Hurtado

Father's Day reminds me of a "Hi and Lois" comic strip from a few years ago:

True, fatherhood means sacrifice, But being a father is the most rewarding experience of my life. Every day there's a new opportunity to share in the joys and accomplishments of your kids. I say to myself, "Maybe I had something to do with that." More than likely, it's a trait they inherited from their mom, but I can dream...

Speaking of their mom, none of this would have happened without her. She truly makes me the father I am. When my kids ask why she married me, Patty tells them, "Because I knew he'd be a good dad." (I always thought it was my rugged good looks!) I try every day to live up to that. Sometimes it's hard. But then my eight year old daughter will say something like she said to my wife the other day. "Mommy, I'm glad you married daddy," she said, "He's funny."

I'll take funny! And I'll take cereal dust and bruised apples, too. That's what being a dad's all about. Like they say... it's the toughest job you'll ever love. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

-Dan Shaffer

I am and always will be a Daddy’s girl. I’m also his #1 girl. I am his first born! I gave him the title, “Daddy”! In return he’s given me a lifetime of FIRSTS.

He is my first hero, my first knight in shining armor, the first to always come to my rescue. He’s my first image of a strong, sensitive and loving man.

The first to teach me about putting God first and how letting faith rule my life is the only way to exist. The first to teach me about responsibility and the value of a dollar.

I know now Daddy that money really doesn’t grow on trees. My Dad is the first to teach me why it is so important to always keep gas in my tank and to check my tires.

He’s the first to attempt to teach me how to read a map and the first one to come get me when I get lost. He is the first to show me the importance of treating people with dignity and respect and the first to show me how to earn both.

Most recently, after I gave birth to my first child, a daughter, as a tribute to my Dad, I made my last name her first, Riley!

Every day, I see that familiar sparkle in her Daddy’s eyes. I pray every day that Riley will love her Daddy as much as I love mine.

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad, David Riley and to my husband, Dave Rabon!

-Deiah Riley

As I look forward to spending Father’s Day with my three boys, I can’t help but think of the example set for me by my father.

My father, Walt Maciborski, Sr., taught me that there are no roadblocks, only opportunities and if I’m going to be in it, be in it to win it.

One of my first life lesson’s from my father was when I was in little league. I wanted to quit. I doubted my abilities and felt insecure. But, with love, my father encouraged me to get in the game. He taught me about sportsmanship, winning with class and how to win in defeat. So, I didn’t quit and that year I was the home run king of the league. Yeah, it may sound a little sappy. But, it was my first life lesson on why you should never quit.

I put that to practice again in my career when I graduated from college. Everyone told me that broadcast news was too competitive and chances are I’d never make it. The crowd told me to quit my dream and have a plan b. But, my father said go for it, all you need is one break. That break happened in 1991 and I’ve had a successful, Emmy winning journey ever since.

Finally, more recently, my father encourages me to be a man of prayer, grace and thanksgiving. So, on this Father’s Day, I prayerfully thank God for blessing my life with my dad, Walt Maciborski, Sr.

-Walt Maciborski

Now that my son and daughter are off to College, I can’t help but wonder: Am I the “World’s Greatest Dad” like it says on the coffee cup? Or did they become these charming, intelligent and caring adults - in spite of my meddling? (I’m probably just the “World’s Greatest Meddler”). In either case, I like to think I gave them enough space to grow into themselves, while providing enough boundaries to keep them from climbing into a trash compactor. I’m very proud of children and really like them, too.

My own Dad left us 12 years ago, but I miss him every day. I raised my brood a little differently than William Francis McLaughlin did. I knew things he didn’t. He had six children to my two. But if the love of your children is the measure of a Father, he was magnificent.

-Brendan McLaughlin

When I was a little girl, my father always kissed me on the top of my head and said, “You’re beautiful”.

“Do your best”, he would always say. My Father’s advice was, “Think like a winner”. I always turned to my father for advice and his words have guided me throughout my life. He believed in me one hundred percent and that gave me confidence. He was always my number one supporter and in turn, it brought him enormous pride in my accomplishments.

When I became an adult, my father would kiss me on the top of my head and say, “You’re beautiful”.

-Linda Gialanella

I used to ask my mom why there wasn’t a “kids day”. Of course, the standard Parent answer is, EVERY day is kids day. Yea, SURE it is!

But in all sincerity, every day IS Fathers Day when you have great kids. Never in my life did I imagine such joy out of getting up EVERY Saturday at 7am, rain or shine, heat or cold, to go watch those little guys play every sport under the sun.

Soccer, baseball, softball, football, dance….it doesn’t matter. It’s more fun than I thought possible. And while this job makes it very challenging to see them during the evening hours, they never complain. And the smile on their faces when you walk in at night is the most fulfilling feeling there is.

Diaper changes, skinned knees, tears after a strikeout, it all goes by SO fast, too fast.

I’m lucky enough to have four amazing kids that treat me like every day is Fathers Day.

And in my world, it is.

Thanks Brett, Shay, Kendall and Josh. I love you.

-Denis Phillips

I will always be grateful to my father for this little bit of advice that I’ve carried through the years: Whatever you choose to do in your life, do it with a passion. Without passion, life would have little substance, and work would be just that, work.

Those that have a true passion to achieve a goal, will achieve that goal. In short, passion is the root to success in life.

I always remind my father on Father’s Day of this advice he gave me. All he ever asked of me was to pass it on. So, on this day, I pass it along to you.

-Tom Korun

My dad was never the type to sit me down and give advice, he often just lead by example. In doing so, he taught me to have fun in life and to ALWAYS laugh. In fact, the first time he met my husband, he said to him “If you’re going to be in this family, you have to have a great sense of humor!” And oh, how true that is…if you knew just how crazy my family can be!

Throughout his life, he had an incredible work ethic. Again, he never told me how to live my life, but through his actions, I learned to never give up. Being in real estate, he worked at all hours and any weekend. The message was clear…you work hard until you succeed.

Although my dad was very dedicated to his job, he very much enjoyed life. He loved to take me and my brothers, Keith and Kevin to baseball games, football games, bowling, mini-golf, movies, and to enjoy any food while eating out! To this day, there’s nothing my dad loves more than to share a great meal with us. Being from Cleveland, that means the more BBQ ribs, loaded pepperoni pizza, fried chicken or spaghetti with *extra* Alfredo sauce, the better!

On this Father’s Day, it’s not just my dad I think of, but also my wonderful husband, Jerome. He is an incredible father to my two step children, Hannah and Ian. Whether he’s teaching Ian how to throw a football or having a heart to heart talk with Hannah that “sometimes life isn’t fair,” he is the best father any child could ask for. And just like my dad, Jerome ALWAYS has an incredible sense of humor. Even if one of us in the family is crying …seconds later, he finds a way to make us all laugh.

So on this special day, I’d like to wish a Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful father Mark, and my loving husband, Jerome.

And to you both…thanks for continuing to make me giggle and always giving me a reason to smile!

-Wendy Ryan

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