The boys and I made a list of things we loved and admired about your dad. We want to help keep his memory alive, so please ask us when you feel like hearing a story.
When Kate was pregnant with Nora, Kevin went out for Wendy’s all the time. Kate was always hungry for fries or a hamburger or a frosty (maybe Kevin was too, actually) but he was willing to pick up the food she craved.
You had a Saturday morning donut routine. I think Kevin located the best egg free bakery options in Columbus and he loved taking you there on the weekend when Kate had to work. I’m pretty sure he always let you get more than one donut.
Kevin was a good science resource for the boys - when Tolliver had a theory about baseball bats going bad, Kevin explained the material structure of a metal bat could actually deteriorate after many hits, leaving the bat to hit less well… so, based on Kevin’s expertise, we did actually have to buy Tolliver a new bat ;)
Kevin loaned the boys books and video games, and liked to discuss those things with them - Kirby, Mario Odyssey, Schroedinger’s Cat… He also asked them what they were reading (The Snouters) or playing (baseball, piano, marching band) and showed interest and encouragement. He shared videos of (and a book by) magician Joshua Jay - everyone’s favorite trick is the “t-shirt, duct tape and a dollar…"
Although he never had formal music lessons, Kevin could sit down at the piano and play lots of things. He was very encouraging of the boys as they were learning to play, came to their recitals and asked what music they were working up. He often played the theme music to Halo… we think he was a nationally ranked player of that video game at one point! He really loved music from the rock band Guided by Voices.
He loved Buckeye football and the Beatles. We used to go to an all day Beatles marathon in Columbus, where the band played every single song they wrote. It took twelve hours. You went too, tiny and wearing headphones. We’re not sure what his college football Saturdays looked like when he was a student, but he visited the Betz tailgate as an adult and was super pumped about the team.
He often texted Tucker about Apple stock. He always used the rocket ship emoji to show the shares were skyrocketing.
The first time we met Kevin was on a vacation to Lake Xichigan. Your mom and dad had just started dating and he joined Andy and all his guy friends on the deck. Your dad fit right in and made everyone laugh - the very first night the guys bonded right away (for some reason the guys all took off their shirts to compare the cotton-poly blend fabric compositions!) He was fun and funny!
Speaking of funny, one of Nora’s baby gifts was a bath toy — an octopus manufactured with only six tentacles. He called it a hexapus.
Kevin was such a passionate board game player, and introduced our family to many new games (Secret Hitler, Codenames, Skull). He helped the big boys complete an at home escape room activity, and taught Tucker to play Hive (Tucker has taught so many friends to play since - he can teach you too!)
One Easter, during the Covid pandemic, Kevin helped create an egg hunt for Tucker and Tolliver and Hank. He hid eggs all over our yard - and it turned out that he hid some so well that the boys were still finding them the following year!
We are likely forgetting lots of good stories, but this is a start. We will always, always help you remember your dad. He loved you so much. And so do we.
Aunt Jenni, Uncle Andy, Tucker, Tolliver and Hank
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