Joseph F. Cryns' (my Dad's) Celebration of Life

with sister Jennifer and brother Michael, remembering our Father

Yesterday we celebrated my Father's life at Baker's Beach in San Francisco. It was a beautiful October sunny day as we all gathered around in a circle to honor my Dad, who touched our lives in such a wonderful way, always the "calm during the storms," the bright light in our lives... his spirit lives on in all of us.

Megan, Melissa, Stevie and Merehuka

My brother Michael and oldest niece Merehuka drove all the way down from Washington and arrived at my place at 4:00 a.m., with a mad dash for everyone to get out the door on time to make the trek to Baker's Beach. Jen, Jeremy, Megan and Baby J rode with me -- Michael and Merehuka left at the same time, and of course arrived before us. I had to stop in get gas, and we needed coffee and snacks -- no time for breakfast.

Jennifer reads the letter from UCSF. (Jen, Jeremy, baby J, Megan, Stevie, Melissa and Merehuka)

Tina and Fernando (left), Jennifer's long time friends, joined us...with Pascale, Jen, Jeremy, baby J, Megan, Stevie and Melissa - the circle of life continues

Megan & Me... we still have to smile as we remember... I'm wearing his lucky hat, of course!

such a beautiful perfect day at Baker Beach for Dad's celebration of life! four of my ukulele playing friends came...Liezl filmed the whole ceremony.

We all met at Baker's Beach. Sherry and Terry drove down from the Placerville area, picking up Terry's daughter Emily who had known Dad practically her whole life. I was greeted in the parking lot.

Emily (Terry's daughter who new my Dad her whole life), with Sherry and Terry, Fernando, Pascale and Melissa

The celebration of life included a magical wave crashing against the shore, a beautiful dog appeared and greeted each of us in the circle and everyone got to say something about Dad and how he impacted all of our lives...

Dad was a veteran (US Army in the 1950s) - so he got this flag.

and yes, there was music...Nancy and me...Nancy is in full Giants garb...she's a native San Franciscan and also went to all the ballgames at Candlestick Park in San Francisco back in the day. (with Tina, Emily and Sherry)

saying a few things about my Dad....

Jennifer read a letter from UCSF to all of us thanking us for following through on his wishes to donate his body to science, being the selfless person that he was.

Sherry shared how she met Dad in 1980 at an insurance company where she worked -- and how she connected with him right away because he talked about movies instead of insurance. They became dear, lifelong friends. Her twin sister Terry said Dad happened to live right across the street from her only he didn't know it until he saw Terry sitting on a bench waiting for a bus and thought she was Sherry. 

Each of my kids spoke of their Grandpa Joe, Melissa wept softly as she remembered him and how he was the best mentor and father figure she ever had in her life. Jeremy remembered how they all got hooked on the old Twilight Zone episodes because Grandpa Joe owned every single one -- and of all the adventures and how he had a come back for every joke.  Megan remembered that Grandpa Joe took her to her first play when she was just four years old on the train -- a live performance of The Wizard of Oz at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco.

Stevie remembered all the adventures they had shared and how he'll continue to fulfill his Grandpa's legacy by going to lots of movies, plays and Giants baseball games. My brother Michael broke down when he remembered all of the adventures and how Dad got us through the "dark times." and it goes on, the circle of life as we all remembered with the beautiful Golden Gate Dad loved so much stretched out in front of us.

We sang San Francisco open your Golden Gate, Leavin' on a Jet Plane, Take Me Out to the Ballgame and ended with King of the Road... some of my awesome ukulele playing friends were there... 

Michael, Merehuka, Stevie, Megan, me, Melissa, Jeremy, Jen, baby J and Liezl

Steve, Alice, Michael, Merehuka, Stevie, Megan, Melisa, Baby Jeremiah, Jeremy, Jen and Liezl

Steve, Alice, Michael, Merehuka, Stevie, Megan, Melissa, Jeremy, Baby J, Jen and Liezl

No family gathering would be complete without the "famous" Pasquale's Pizza (or Tommy's Joynt) family wall photos!! these were always our favorite places to eat with Dad!

today my older daughter Melissa reminded me that it's my Mother's birthday. She would have been 82 years old today... and I realized that 17 years ago, we all gathered at the beach up in Newport, Oregon and stood in a circle.. the circle of life that always continues, filled with love as we continue to travel our own life roads...

Farewell Dad...we love you and miss you more than you know.