His Way

My Grandpa Riisy would have been 98 today. He passed away right before Thanksgiving 2019. I miss him immensely. I could go on and on about him and his amazing life. I'll just share a few details here.

He was the sweetest man to ever live. He was the ultimate gentleman, always holding doors for ladies, helping with my coat. He doted on his beloved wife and on all his kids and grandkids. We held hands. He had the smoothest skin. And the best head of hair (even at 97). He was the most dapper dresser. He loved cantaloupe and camomile tea. He was fascinated by sharks. He and my grandma collected elephant figurines. They traveled the world together, in style. They loved living in Manhattan. They ate at the best restaurants. I joined them on countless Sunday evenings. When my grandpa and grandma were in high school and dating, Frank Sinatra sang at their prom. On the way to the funeral Hubs played Frank Sinatra in the car. I cried (obviously). Here are some of the notes from my eulogy:

Riisy our patriarch
Always taking care of Elly, and of all of us
From securing the best lounge chairs in Acapulco to
Helping us ladies with our coats after dinners at Elio's
Always the ultimate gentleman
The exemplary husband
The little things like sharing a tricolore salad, penne primavera and veal parmesan at Elio's
To showing what it means to be married to your best friend
In fact “happiness is being married to your best friend” was always a motto for them, they even had it stitched onto a pillow at their apartment
And they truly were, for me, an example of a wonderful marriage
When I was in my 20s and thinking about who I wanted to date, I made a list of qualities in the man I wanted to someday be with
To be like Riisy - I wrote
When I started dating Justin he met Riisy and the rest of the extended family at Grandma's shiva
Ten years ago, almost to the day
"What are your intentions?" Rissy asked Justin that day
(And throughout our courtship)
Riisy was there with us for our engagement dinner
When I was pregnant with our second daughter Mia, our older daughter Liv chose the name Mia
She loved the character Mia in the movie La La Land
I loved the name Mia because it had an "M," I knew it would always make me think of Maurice
I feel as though Riisy (and Elly) will always be with me through the family I have created

After Riisy's Shiva on a snowy night in November Hubs and I went to Elio's for dinner. We shared my grandparents' favorite dishes. (Also favorites of mine.) We toasted to their long, rich life together and to their example of a life well-lived.

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