Excerpt from Conversations with Our Fathers | Contributed by Donna Marie

We hear so much said about Moms … the books, the talk shows … all recording countless stories of a mother’s influence and nurturing.  Even hunky, 250-pound linebackers always gleefully pay some kind of homage to their Moms when the camera’s on them, when they make a touchdown or great play.  Hi Mom!  This one’s for you Mom! they often mouthe to their mothers on the other end of the camera lens. Well I couldn’t agree more with the view on Moms … but what about all the Dads out there? 

I decided to pen my feelings for you … to try to put into words the depth of affection I have for you Daddy.  While visiting the idyllic Caribbean island of my birth (with its warm weather, its special smells, its clear blue skies atop the Sea, which is almost as comforting and exhilarating as a freshly drawn bath) I was awash with memories, old and new.  Memories of a man who was always there for me and still is in an even more intimate way.  When I flashback to the daily conversations we had when you drove me to school or fast forward to the lessons of success you taught through example, to the importance of family connections, the values of integrity, honesty and hard work you imparted, to the importance of setting goals and going after them, to the special way you instilled within me my sense of self, I am present to the many lessons I have learned and continue to learn from you.  You provided a most sturdy and valuable foundation on which I have built my life.  

Thanks Dad for being such a wonderful inspiration in my life.  I am eternally grateful!

What this Story Reveals

This tribute reveals a revolutionary truth hiding in plain sight: authentic masculine strength isn’t found in emotional distance, but in the courage to show up daily with an open heart. Donna Marie’s father embodies a new archetype of masculinity—one that builds rather than dominates, nurtures rather than withdraws, and creates intimate connection through vulnerable presence.

His legacy wasn’t forged through grand gestures but through ordinary moments transformed by extraordinary love: school-drive conversations, lessons taught through example, and the patient cultivation of his daughter’s self-worth. This reveals how evolved fatherhood becomes a masterclass in reimagined manhood—showing that true power lies in lifting others up, not holding them at arm’s length.

Most profoundly, this story reveals that the deepest masculine impact comes not from what fathers achieve for themselves, but from what they awaken in their children. The gratitude that flows from this daughter’s heart decades later proves that men who dare to love fully, communicate openly, and remain consistently present don’t just raise successful children—they heal the world one relationship at a time.

In celebrating this father, we glimpse the transformative potential of compassionate masculinity: strong enough to be tender, confident enough to be vulnerable, and wise enough to know that the greatest legacy any man can leave is a child who feels deeply loved and unshakably valued.