Kenneth Hedges

My Father passed away on Feb 11, 2012, a Saturday morning. We loved him as a husband, a father, and a friend. From his older brothers and sisters he received guidance and inspiration, which he passed on to all of us. He gave me strength in times of trouble, guidance in times of uncertainty, and strived to provoke laughter and provide amusement to anyone he met every day of his life. Will Rodgers said “I never met a person I didn’t like”. That phrase seemed unrealistic until someone explained it to me. You approach every person you meet as if they may be your next good friend. You’re free to dislike any Son of a Bitch within minutes after you meet them but you never pre-judge anyone. That was my Fathers approach & one he passed on to me. My father told me from a very young age that it is very important to be honest with the ones that matter to you. It is one of the greatest and yet most rare of gifts that one can give to your family and friends. Say what matters. Say what’s important to you to the person while they are still alive and can hear your words. I asked him, “How will I know when someone is honest dad?” He replied – from their character son. I would like to share a quote that summarizes what my dad meant and taught me when he spoke of character and honesty. “You have already done plenty of things to regret, you just don’t know what they are. It’s when you discover them, when you see the folly in something you’ve done and you wish that you had to do it over, but it’s too late. So you pick that thing up and carry it with you to remind you that life goes on, the world will spin without you, and you really don’t matter in the end. Then you will gain character because honesty will reach out from inside and tattoo itself across your face.” My father did not often speak his love but showed it through affection, respect, encouragement, support and humor. He told me you will not know a person through what they say. You will only know a person by what they do. Because his love and friendship was unselfish, involved sacrifice and giving, we could not help but profit from it. Dad did not change the course of world history, very few people ever do. Rather he worked to change small portions that had a great impact on my life, as well as many others.

Tributes

Kenneth Hedges

March 14, 1937 - February 11, 2012