Unless something really big happens and I need to write an addendum, this is it. As I read and reread back over this document I realize how lucky and blessed I have been.

God blessed me with a certain amount of intelligence that combined with hard work and supportive parents led me into a profession that has been very good to my family and me. I feel fortunate to have been raised a Catholic. Maybe I would have found Catholicism on my own, but that is not likely and does not happen that often.

I met and married the love of my life, a wonderful women with so many virtues that there are too many to name them all. One is her positive attitude about life and not saying or dwelling on negative things. She has tremendous common sense and loves her children and grandchildren more than anyone could ask for. She is a great cook, hostess, golfer, bridge player, caregiver (me), conversationalist and loyal friend to many. On top of that she is very intelligent and beautiful, both in and out. She had and has a tremendous capacity to be tolerant of my long work hours and travel and my involvement in public and, later, religious service. What more could one ask for?

I always struggled with trying to balance my time and energy devoted to work and public service with that of the family and often have felt that I should have found a way to spend more time with or for the family. It could have been done and I regret not doing it.

How many people are blessed with six wonderful children? What a pleasure they have all been along with their great spouses. Then there are the thirteen lovely grandchildren, including two step grandchildren. Each of them is making his or her way into the world in their own way and I see a lot of hard work, talent and beauty in everything they do. Not too long ago we were further blessed with our first great grand daughter, Clara Kalwat, daughter of Dannielle and Michael Kalwat. She is beautiful.

Finally, there are my three fantastic sisters and their spouses (my brothers) and families. Each of them have been an inspiration to me in ways they probably are not even aware of. I also was lucky to marry into a very fine family that gave me four more brothers, two sisters and six spouses. We do not see some of them as often as we would like, especially in these senior years, but stay in touch thru email, letters, holiday cards and phone calls. We lost Ermie, Sandy’s sister to cancer on November 11, 2012.

There is so much to do and so little time.

May GOD bless each and every one of you, especially if you read this whole thing.

Love and prayers,

Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Dad, Husband and Roland