09/21/2026
“Art is, after all, only a trace — like a footprint which shows that one has walked bravely and in great happiness.”
— Robert Henri, The Art Spirit
(Part 1)
I have been putting off making this post since Friday. Because it felt like when I hit post then this is real life and this really happened.
After a short battle with Stage 4 lung cancer, my Dad passed away on Friday September 18. He passed peacefully, holding my Mom’s hand and listening to all of his favorite songs. Exactly like he wanted.
Any person I have tattooed has surely heard me talk about my Dad. He was my hero. My “go to” conversation subject. My best friend. The most talented, dedicated, hard working and relentless artist that has ever lived. I have been surrounded by art and artists my entire life and I can confidently say I have never seen an artist more dedicated to their craft. Being an artist was in my Dad’s DNA. It was not something he did. It was something he was. Not once in his adult life has he EVER had a job that wasn’t in the arts. He has never settled for a life of anything but an artist. Do you know how rare that is? Working in the arts is insanely difficult and to make a 50+ year career doing absolutely nothing else is unheard of. Getting to have a front row seat to see what that kind of unwavering dedication to art looks like is a gift I will never take for granted. Every part of my Dad’s personality shaped me. The thought of going through the rest of my life without him to talk to is killing me because everything I love in life (music, art, food, hobbies, EVERYTHING) is because of him. It is daunting to know I am going to go every single day of my life moving forward thinking of things I wish I could call and tell him.
The most important part of my Dad, however, began 12 years ago when he became a Papa. I knew my Dad loved my sisters and I - he was never short of an “I Love You Most”. But the second he became a grandfather, his entire purpose in life changed. He LOVED his 7 grandkids more than anything else in the entire world. They came first in his life immediately. And I cherish the fact that after all of the amazing things he has done in life, (continued in comments)