Father

On the weekend after Thanksgiving, I went home to Brooklyn, N.Y., to visit my father - the man whose height and stature always felt like a wall of protection between me and the world. As I sat beside his hospital bed in these last few months of his life, I had watched the body of this once robust, 6-foot-2, 240-pound man slowly transform into a wilted flower. Now he was down to about 130 pounds. I whispered in his ear, "Daddy, do you remember me telling you that I'm going to the Congo"?

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Sgt. Andrew Ponton has been in Iraq since January, but if you had visited Florida's SeaWorld recently, you might have seen him sitting on a bench between his wife and son watching the dolphins perform. Or perhaps you noticed him, dressed in his Army fatigues, sunning on the beach at Tybee Island near Savannah, Ga. A closer look, however, would reveal that it's not Ponton in the flesh. It is a life-size vinyl foam-board cutout that his family uses to keep him close even when he is far away.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-- --The seven-letter word keeps resurfacing in the life and baseball times of Aubrey Huff. Without. Huff, the Orioles' new middle-of-the-lineup slugger, graduated from a Texas high school without being drafted and without getting any serious looks from Division I colleges. In his first seven seasons in the majors, Huff hit 141 homers without fanfare because he played primarily in the obscurity of Tampa Bay, a place without baseball tradition, without a consistent fan base.

DEAR AMY -- I recently married the father of six wonderful children. So far, most of the kids seem to approve of me. However, two don't - they are 6 and 9 years old. They go out of their way to make me feel as if I am nothing. I have tried many times to reason with them and convince them that I am actually the best thing to ever happen to their father and to them. How can I make them realize that they really do depend on me to make their lives as happy as possible? So far, the 6-year-old has been the toughest to deal with, and he seems to enjoy calling me names and watching me cry. Both of these children have severely bratty tendencies, but he is the worst.

ATLANTA -- Georgetown, its coach, John Thompson III, told reporters yesterday, is "the son-of team." He quickly added, "And look, Florida might be the son-of team also." Ohio State might also fit that description, except only one of its players is a "son of." Poor UCLA, then. The Bruins are the only participants in the Final Four without a player whose father's name is instantly recognizable - as an athlete, and most likely as a basketball player. How'd they crash the family picnic? The better question is: How did the other three teams manage this, to get so much from the sons of highly accomplished fathers?

David De Silva is known as "Father Fame," but he might have been called "Father Hot Lunch" or "Father Neon Dreams.""Hot Lunch" and "Neon Dreams" were preliminary titles for the 1980 movie "Fame," which De Silva conceived and produced."

To Gerson F. Kroiz, nothing was more important than family. In the summer of 1978, Mr. Kroiz made headlines by kidnapping his three children in the midst of a custody dispute because he feared he would lose them. He died Friday at age 60 of pancreatic cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital.Mr. Kroiz was one of the first people arrested under Maryland's law to prevent feuding parents from abducting children. The law went into effect July 1, 1978. He later established a cordial relationship with his ex-wife.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the longest time, it would have been ludicrous to suggest that going on the disabled list might be the best thing that could happen to Cal Ripken. But just this once, that might have been the case.You wouldn't wish a back injury on anyone, but Ripken said yesterday that the time off gave him a physical and emotional break, a chance to gather himself following the death of his father, a fresh perspective on the game.Ripken, 38, called last night his "second Opening Day."

Killer Darris A. Ware began fighting for his life yesterday, bringing in his aunt, a social worker and jail counselors to tell Anne Arundel County Circuit Court jurors who will sentence him that the two murders they convicted him of were an aberration."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the longest time, it would have been ludicrous to suggest that going on the disabled list might be the best thing that could happen to Cal Ripken. But just this once, that might have been the case.You wouldn't wish a back injury on anyone, but Ripken said last night that the time off gave him a physical and emotional break, a chance to gather himself following the death of his father, a fresh perspective on the game."The injury was a blessing in disguise," Ripken said.

On November 16, 2009, GLENN F. KNIGHT, SR.; devoted father of Glenn Knight. He is also survived by his father Gene Knight; sister, Monique Brooks; brother, Gene Bryant Knight and devoted friend Pamela Alford. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Thursday after 8:30 A.M., where the family will also receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M., Thursday. On Friday 11:30 A.M., family will receive friends at the above address, funeral service to follow at 12 noon.

On October 29, 2009, AARON G., in Linthonia, GA. Beloved son of Clara McCrea, and devoted father of Keisha McCormick and Samyra McCrea. He is also survived by three brothers, Freddie, Lamont, and Jeffrey, three sisters, Pamela Simpkins, Deborah and Cynthia McCrea, other relatives and friends. Friends may visit the JAMES A. MORTON and SONS FUNERAL HOMES, INC., 1701 Laurens Street, 6 to 6:30 PM. Funeral service 6:30 PM.

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, MATTHEW E. MITCHELL, SR. of St. Michaels MD, beloved husband of Betty E. Mitchell, devoted father of the late Matthew E. Mitchell, Jr., loving father of William and Roslyn Mitchell, Richard Mitchell, Mark and Judy Mitchell, all of Baltimore; Robert Mitchell, Ann and Don Roe of St. Michaels, grandfather of 14 and great-grandfather of four. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

On October 28, 2009, DAVID L. GILLOTTI, age 48; beloved husband of Anni P. Gillotti (nee Winkler); devoted father of Rachel and Kinsey Gillotti and two step children, Kelsey and Cheyne Williason. He is also survived by his father, Donald M. Gillotti and wife Nancy; sister, Donna S. Coleman and her husband William; brother, Michael K. Gillotti and two step sisters, Amy Price and her husband Allen and Jennifer Webster and her husband Steven; five nephews and two nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorice K. Gillotti (nee Kiser)

Ray Rice was acting out of kindness and determination, not arrogance or ego, on that fall evening six years ago when he told his mother he would someday play in the NFL. His mother remembers the look in his eye, the certainty in his voice. "In the 11th grade, I would run his bath water after he had a hard practice," Janet Rice said. "This day, he looked me in the eye and said, 'Ma, I'm going to the League.' He's looking out the window, talking. ... 'I gotta make it to the League.' The rest is history."

On October 24, 2009, EMMETT EDWARD STARKE; devoted husband of Rose M. Starke; father of Evette, Herbert, Jacqueline, Elloise, Philip, Brian, Erica Thompson, Charles Hudgins, Shenell Arrington, Bernard Simmons (Emmett E. Starke III and Sharon Barnet preceded him in death); and a host of other relatives and friends. On Thursday, friends may call Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services (EAST),

On October 16, 2009, ALMON G.; devoted father of Tricia and Wayne Brissett. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Thursday after 8:30 A.M., where the family will receive friends on Friday at 11:30 A.M., follow by funeral service at 12 noon.

On October 18, 2009 JOSEPH A. KOLODZIEJSKI; beloved husband of Karen A. (nee Kordonski); devoted father of Tammy Flowers and her husband Ed, Tonya Kalterbach and her husband Jamie; dear brother of Ken Kolodziejski; loving grandfather of Andrew and Kate Flowers. Funeral services will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue on Friday at 10 a.m. Interment Glen Haven Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday 7 to 9 P.M., Thursday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. www.ruckfu

On October 7, 2009, FRANK JUNIUS; devoted father of Bridget. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Sunday after 10:30 A.M., where the family will receive friends from 3 to 5 P.M. The family will also receive friends on Monday at the Epworth United Methodist Church, 3317 St. Lukes Lane at 11 A.M follow by

On October 12, 2009 JERARD "HEAVY" KANE devoted father of Jerard, Jr. and Davon Kane; cherished fiance of Cheryl Hainson. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Friday after 8:30 a.m. The family will receive friends on Saturday at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Magothy, 8178 Artic Road, Pasadena, MD at 9 a.m. followed by funeral service at 10 a.m.