That’s My Dad – A Tribute

My Dad Joseph went to be with Jesus last Tuesday. We’re going to miss him terribly, but we are soooo grateful for all the years and memories we had with him and we are so grateful we will see him again in heaven one day!

My Dad LOVED his family, his home country Ecuador, a good adventure and a working microphone, probably in that order. My Dad was a fighter and brave and a hard worker. He had a larger-than-life personality, was a bonafide extrovert, was a natural storyteller, enjoyed laughing and telling jokes and was super proud of my sister and me and his grandchildren and was dedicated to fighting for immigrants’ rights worldwide. He was generous, was the original dog whisperer and loved God…

My Dad has been one of my biggest supporters over the years. I always loved when he could attend my book launch events and so much more. He’s the Dad who gave me flowers at the end of my talent show performance in the sixth grade (embarrassing, but sweet) and came to my skating competition and when I got inducted into the National Honor Society in high school and cheered me on when I graduated from college and got my master’s degree from NYU. He was at the ceremony at Carnegie Hall and at Washington Square Park …

This picture is my Dad in his element when it comes to his public life. It’s quintessential him. He was charming, welcoming and just a natural in front of a crowd. This is now one of my favorite pics of him. Check out that smile behind the microphone. This was taken at the 20th Anniversary for one of the institutions he helped to found. He fought hard over the years for Ecuador to pass different legislation to help recognize the rights of Ecuadorians living abroad.

One of his proudest achievements was fighting for the creation and passing of Ecuador’s Dual-Citizenship law. He fought long and hard so that Ecuadorians who emigrated to other countries could also keep their Ecuadorian citizenship. Over the years, he would lobby for legislation, hold press conferences, organize and attend marches and protests (even in Italy and I think Spain and other countries), he even ran for an assemblyman position years ago. He was also a grand marshal and MC for countless parades and events especially for Ecuadorian Independence Day in Los Angeles and New York and in Ecuador. He was interviewed by various Spanish press over the years and knew a lot of the local politicians. He also helped to raise funds for earthquake victims to help them construct new modest homes and rebuild in Ecuador.

My Dad had a brief audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2001 and the Pope blessed Ecuadorian immigrants worldwide. We grew up Catholic so that was a big deal and honor for my Dad. He went on to meet the two subsequent Popes and other dignitaries …

My Dad and I had so many wonderful and fun adventures including during my trips to Ecuador in 2003 and 2010. Here we’re all dressed up for the party my large extended family threw in my honor and also roughing it while sight seeing. I wrote a lot about those trips in Book 4, By Faith: Adventures and Reflections on Walking With God Here and Abroad.

It’s so miraculous and lovely how God healed our family and I will share some of that story at some point, but that’s all for now. THAT’S MY DAD!

If you’d like to read more about my Dad, enjoy these blog posts I’ve written over the years:

• Lesson Learned from My Dad
• Over the Moon: My Connection to Apollo 11
• Let Your Light Shine
• Lost and Found

Thank you for your prayers for me and mi familia during this time. Blessings!

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV)

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV)

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