It was a privilege to deliver a eulogy for my dad, who died on May 1, 2005 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. I’m glad I had the chance to tell people what a great guy and a great father he was.
I wrote an earlier post about how he cheerfully welcomed all the guests at his own memorial service and provided the entertainment as well. He would have liked the service. It was a celebration of his life, not a mournful remembrance.
Every kid should be so lucky as to have a dad like I did.
POSTSCRIPT 1: Here is an essay I wrote for the Minneapolis Star Tribune about my dad’s long, slow descent into Alzheimer’s.
POSTSCRIPT 2: A few years after I wrote the above essay, I shared an especially poignant moment with my dad shortly before he passed away.
ABOUT PHIL BOLSTA
Phil is the author of Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything, a collection of 45 inspiring, life-changing stories from prominent people he interviewed, including Joan Borysenko, Deepak Chopra, geneticist Dr. Francis Collins, acclaimed sportswriter Frank Deford, Dr. Larry Dossey, Wayne Dyer, Dan Millman, Caroline Myss, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Dr. Bernie Siegel, James Van Praagh, singer Billy Vera, Doreen Virtue, Neale Donald Walsch, and bassist Victor Wooten.
Here is a three-minute video that introduces you to Phil and his book. Click here to buy Sixty Seconds. Click here to ask Phil to add you to his e-mail list for updates on his blog and books.
Reading this book is like spending a few minutes face to face with each of the contributors and listening to their personal stories. Click here to read unsolicited testimonials from readers. Learn more by visiting the official Sixty Seconds website.
Sixty Seconds was one of three finalists in the General Interest/How-To category at the 12th annual Visionary Awards presented by COVR (Coalition of Visionary Resources) in Denver on June 27, 2009.
Tags: celebration, dad, Kent Bolsta, memorial service
March 8, 2009 at 5:27 PM
That was beautiful Phil. Kudos to you for being able to do it. I can only hope I will be that strong when the time comes.
March 8, 2009 at 6:20 PM
You’ll find the strength, Kim. It comes when you need it to.
March 23, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Phil,
I also lost my mom to ALZ in 2005. People who have endured this disease with their parent belong to a special club. You just cannot empathize until you’ve been there. I also spoke at my mom’s memorial service, and it certainly helped bring some closure to a painful period in our lives. I’m glad you were able to do the same.
March 23, 2010 at 12:47 AM
I’m glad you were able to achieve some closure, Marla. As an Alzheimer’s daughter, I think you would like Lisa Genova’s novel about Alzheimer’s. It’s beautifully written and gave me insight into the mind of an Alheimer’s patient. I interviewed Lisa about her book because I wanted to help her get the word out. You can watch my video interview with her here:
http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/genova/
Here is the testimonial I wrote for her book:
I wish I could have read Lisa Genova’s masterpiece before my dad passed away following a 10-year struggle with Alzheimer’s. I would have better understood and appreciated what was unfolding in his confused and ravaged mind. I knew that he was “still in there” somewhere, and yet . . . I might have been able to more compassionately accompany him, as Lisa so brilliantly put it, beyond “the choking weeds and sludge in [his] mind to a place that was pristine and still intact, hanging on.” This book is as important as it is impressive, and will grace the lives of those affected by this dread disease for generations to come.