At some point during my adolescence I remember asking my father if he ever had a nickname. He said some guys used to call him "Longstinger" when he was in the navy.Gary K Longsine, born on December 21, 1941, had a passion for technology from a young age. His education in electronics came from serving. He spent some time on The Hornet, and yet more time in Hawaii. He was a "radio man", maintaining equipment used for secure communications.
Later he would spend some time in New Orleans, flying out in a helicopter to oil rigs in the gulf to install and maintain their radio equipment.
After that, he settled down in Podunk, Nebraska working for the phone company. My first memories of him are of watching star trek on his lap some evening after work.
Over the years I visited him at work every once in a while. The the sound of the electromechanical switches are one of my ancient memories. I found an excellent sample online:
My dad had a very keen ear. He could listen to that cacophony and detect when someone in town was dialing our home phone number.
Eventually, these old machines would be replaced by racks of digital equipment, quiet humming, and whirring of fans. Dad kept pace with the change, setting an excellent example of being a life-long-learner.
Dad had the vision to invest in a personal computer when they were very new and not very affordable. Machines back in those days didn't come with anything fun, and so I learned to program.
Both of his sons went on to be techies, and the three of us loved to talk about the computer industry the way many like to talk about football games — except with us it was one, long game being played over the course of decades.
He lived to buy an iPhone, and on his last day held a copy of Leopard in his hands.
Not long after Holloween midnight, as he lay in bed in a hospice facility, he quietly passed — his body giving up the fight against pancreatic cancer and a host of ailments brought on by adult-onset diabetes.
My brother and I knew him by the nickname "Yopa" — as in "your dad".
Rest in peace dad, and thank you for this life.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, to make a donation to the Johns Hopkins Research center to support pancreatic cancer research. The tax-deductable contributions can be made to:
Ralph H. Hruban, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242
Baltimore, MD 21231-2410
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12 comments:
Lovely rememberence, Pohl.
What a fitting memorial to a dad you obviously knew very well. You are truly a very good and gracious man. I am sure your father would have been very pleased with your well put words. "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you and your family in my prayers" Ephesians 1:16
Pohl,
Fathers weren’t always the way we wanted them…often nixing our most poignant ideas and projects…but in retrospect of being both a Dad and a Grandfather it is amazing to me how wise Dads were. Age and wisdom, the experience of an accumulation of acumen and stupidity! Out of their bag of tricks they could introduce your to the strange mysteries of the world or, on occasion, run you through the gauntlet of one of their personal debacles from the school of hard knocks, and usually laughingly cuff you ‘long side the head with an admonishment such as, “let that be a lesson to ya.” And you still remember it too! Dads, aren’t they something?
Pohl, I extend my sympathy, you have written a fine memory and down the road one day when you hear yourself saying, or catch yourself doing those things, which your father said or taught, you’ll understand that you’ve been left with his legacy.
Oh, Pohl, I'm so sorry. You've written a lovely and loving eulogy. You're in my thoughts.
So sorry to hear of the loss of your father--you are in my thoughts and prayers.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Your father sounds like an amazing man.
Thank you for letting us all share in the love that you clearly have for him. The world is truly richer because your dad raised such wonderful kids.
We'll be thinking of you and yours today.
Thank you all for your sympathy and support. Your kindness has helped to make a difficult time bearable.
Hi Pohl,
That was a lovely, lovely eulogy for your father. Chris and I were just wondering how your dad was doing the other day, now we know and he is no longer suffering. But it seemed as though he was enjoying life to the end. Now comes your and Gary's healing. All the best and very large hug (probably a few tears too). ~V
My heartfelt condolences. Hope you are coping well.
I'm sorry to read of your loss, Pohl. You have written a very touching remembrance. You're in my thoughts.
I remember your Dad well, and always thought he was absolutely the nicest guy. Peace to him, and to you.
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