What Makes Dad Special?

CAPE MAY – Why is your dad special? For 10-year-old Amira Villanueva, it’s because Dad is “kind and nice to her, and takes her shopping for clothes.” For 13-year-old Nico Castellano, it’s because Dad likes doing fun things with him, including taking him to sporting events. For Diane Christine Jorgensen, Dad is still an icon to her because of his contributions to the Cape May County economy.
While the reasons may vary, children of all ages will be remembering why their dads are special, and celebrating fatherhood and male parenting June 21, Father’s Day, across the U.S.
Villanueva and Castellano were among a small group of people on the Washington Mall who were interviewed about their dads, while Jorgensen was one of two people who responded to a Herald request on Facebook about fathers who contributed to making Cape May County a better place.
Villanueva, who came to the U.S. from the Phillipines five years ago and lives with her grandparents in Rockville, Md., said her dad is special because, “he is kind and nice to me. When I am sad, he cheers me up. He likes to buy me bows to put in my hair.”
She was visiting Cape May Sunday with her grandparents, including her grandfather, Joseph. They had just gotten ice cream and were strolling along Perry Street, enjoying the warm weather and summer-like day. “My grandpa is special because he likes to do things for me,” she added. “If I hurt my leg while running or playing softball, he will massage it for me.” She said she is quite athletic and plays a number of sports so the massage is very important to her.
Sharing sporting events with his dad is important to Castellano, who was headed to the beach June 14 with his dad, Nick. “He lets us do fun things,” the teen, who is from North Cape May, said. “Yesterday we went to a bocce tournament and it was special to me because he let us play.
“He’ll take us to Hot Dog Tommy’s (a Cape May eatery), and a lot of sporting events like the Eagles,” he added.
Father’s Day was inaugurated in the U.S. in the early 20th Century to complement Mother’s Day, in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting. It was first celebrated on July 5, 1908, in West Virginia, when Grace Golden Clayton was mourning the loss of her father following the Monongah Mining Disaster that killed 361 men, 250 of them fathers. About 1,000 children were left fatherless at the time.
She suggested that her pastor honor all these fathers, which did happen. However, the event was not promoted and never gained traction for a variety of reasons, including being overshadowed by Fourth of July celebrations.
Through the 1900s, a number of attempts to make Father’s Day a holiday failed, many because of the concern some people held that merchants were trying to capitalize on commercialism of the event.
It wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers on the third Sunday of June. It became a national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. It also is celebrated globally on a variety of days.
“I am very proud of my father, George O. Urie,” Jorgensen said, responding to a Herald Facebook request asking for suggestions of “fathers who have made Cape May County a better place.”
“He worked very hard to establish Urie’s Fish Fry Resturant,” Jorgensen noted. Jorgensen and her husband are from Wildwood, but now live seven months of the year in Port St. Lucie, Fl. They spend the remainder of the year in Rio Grande.
“He and his sons employed many people from this area over the years,” she added. “This is why I think he has contributed to the betterment of South Jersey. My dad has passed away, but is still an icon to me.”
Sometimes, the term “father” can encompass others, such as a godfather who may have played key roles during one’s lifetime. Jack Porter wanted to recognize his godfather, Samuel Badway, as part of the Herald’s Facebook request.
“Sam is and has been the go-to guy for many needs,” Porter said. “It seems as though his education and knowledge is unlimited. All of us have ups and downs; his ability to keep it together for those who come to him for advice during hard times is priceless.
“My father and Sam were best friends growing up in North Wildwood,” Porter wrote in an email to the Herald. “Even though my dad suffers from mental illness, Mr. Bradway has always been there for us and many others.”
According to Porter, “Sam’s choices in life, starting in college, coming home to move up the ladder in the West Wildwood police force, then venturing out to be a successful business man developing new home sites, were all things he did to improve Cape May County.
“During this time, he started a beautiful family by adopting two children in need of love and care,” Porter added. “A few months later, as a total surprise, he and his wonderful wife Helena, learned they were expecting a daughter.”
Bradway’s love continues for the community, according to Porter, as a “caring member of a few churches and timeless efforts with youth groups, sports and such. An accident blessed Sam and his family with another child to love and care for. And later, a fifth child was adopted in his early teens to make his life full of joy and love. All the Bradways have a big heart and a lot of love for the people of their community.
“I have heard many times that Sam Bradway could fix anything except a broken heart,” Porter said, “But I beg to differ. He has guided me and many through dark times and that alone can help heal a heart.”
Images of hearts have come to mean love over the years, and for seven-year-old Mikey Svec, who was in Cape May Sunday sitting on a bench in the shade with his “Pop-Pop,” it was simply the fact that “Pop-Pop loves me,” as the reason Svec said his grandfather was special.
His grandfather, Dwayne Wilson, from Maryland, and Svec, who is from Loganville, Pa., were visiting Cape May County for the week. “Sometimes my Pop-Pop watches me,” Svec said as he hugged his grandfather. “Sometimes he takes me to soccer games and watches me there. He takes me to the beach, too.”
Sharing activities and vacationing seem to help make some dads special.
“My Dad is special because he takes us on vacation,” said five-year-old Luke Domboroczky, from East Stroudsburg, Pa., said about his dad, Tony. The Domboroczky family was in Cape May June 14, eating ice cream on the Washington Street Mall, as they started their week-long vacation. “We go shopping for food, play soccer, have fun. We also watch the Eagles together.”
While the reasons why a dad is special may vary, nearly all dads seem to want the same thing when celebrating Father’s Day.
“The usual,” is how Nick Castellano describes how he hopes to spend Father’s Day. Like other dads, he hopes it is a day spent with family, and “going to the beach, barbecuing, and hopefully relaxing!”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.