My dad wasn't the kind of guy you'd find on LinkedIn. Blue collar, self taught machine mechanic. When the kids grew up, he moved back to his tiny hometown to become the elementary school custodian. As a society we don't celebrate people like the school custodian. We take for granted that the building is clean, the HVAC is working, that someone will clean up after your sick kid. Few think about the person going to the building 365 days a year to keep the ancient coal furnace fed. But you know who celebrates those folks? The kids. They ADORED him. Like, hero worship level. My dad died young, two years older than I am now. His viewing was packed with kids bearing flowers, wearing his favorite color (blue), holding the blue gummy sharks he was famous for handing out (we legit buried him with a bag that a girl brought "in case Mr. Rossi gets hungry on the way to heaven".) Several young men are walking around today with the name John, after my dad. My post today is twofold: First and foremost, to wish all the dads and father figures the happiest of days. ❤️ Secondly, to remind everyone that those unseen men you pass every day in "menial" jobs may just be someone's cherished father. Be sure to give them a smile, nod, and as much respect as the guy in the fancy suit. #fathersday #bluecollar #mechanic #custodian #respect #engineering #marketing
Steve Hemingway
1mo
God love your father and all those who do their best with pride, regardless of their job duties. My father told me many years ago to do a job that satisfied me and get a better job when it no longer did. He also told me never to look down on any job, because it existed to satisfy a necessity and to respect the person who does it with their best effort. Pride and integrity are the greatest traits a person leaves on this earth when they’re gone. I’m sure there is a very long list of people, who what many would consider did simple jobs, whose children became very important and successful people. Generals don’t win wars, but soldiers do.
April Hoffman
1mo
Love this, Darlene Schock. I was also raised by a blue-collar dad. My mom worked part time, so our family of five lived primarily off of his income. He worked overtime when offered and singlehandedly paid off our mortgage early. My two brothers and husband are also blue collar (and all earn more than me and my college degree 🤣). These jobs are so valuable. Even though I chose to go to college, I'm so glad my dad gave me a foundation that taught me to respect these jobs and all they provide. My son is almost 13, and he knows that we support him whether he chooses a blue-collar job or decides to go to college.
EMMA ORR
1mo
Such a lovely story of your Dad, I might have shed a tear 😢 (definitely did!) Sounds like those years of his life might have been the best. You’re right the elementary years, ‘the caretaker’ is THE job, the guy that fixes everything. I think we all figure out what is important as we get older, it’s never what we think. You can always work people out very early, in the way they treat others. It tells you all you need to know.
Beautifully said. Thanks for sharing. Sorry for your loss. Great picture, btw.
Great post Darlene. I still remember the custodian from my elementary school, I’m sure everyone does.
Thanks for sharing.
Amen, I say! I appreciate people for their excellence no matter their trade, job, or specialty. I saw this in action from my parents: my dad was an Assistant US Attorney, my mother an accountant and I never met more down-to-earth people in my life. They respected you if you were respectable. My dad’s best friends were car mechanics, plumbers, farmers, tool & die guys, and factory workers. You’d never know he dad was an AUSA especially after work because he wore mismatched clothing and even when he wore shorts, he always wore his leather wing tips, black socks, 🙈 and ALWAYS (to work) a cowboy hat which I bought him when I lived in Colorado. He assisted pro bono Polish immigrants to become American citizens and my mother assisted in interpretation (she was better at Polish than dad). He later became a judge and would always introduce us kids when we'd visit him at the office to everyone who worked there, including the janitors. He appreciated hard-working people as did my mom; work was work and if you were good at it, got it done on time, and were helpful to others, what more is there to say? I'm happy that you had a great dad as did I.
Rich Barnett
1mo
This comment is close to many of our hearts and we just hope this rubs off on on our younger generation before they realize what a mistake they made by not acknowledging all the dads and just kind people out there, we need more give back gestures, just hope this is read and digested by all young people.
Gary Steensgard
1mo
I am fortunate to work daily with some of the best blue collar pros around. Wouldn't change a thing.
Proposal Specialist
1moThank you to everyone for taking the time to read about a perfect stranger and sharing your thoughts. I'm a little overwhelmed at response, my posts usually don't get too much attention, lol. Thank you all for the love and support, and it brings happy tears in my eyes to know that so many people got a little peek at someone who was my hero for so many reasons. ❤️