Daniel M. Gold

My father was an exceptionally caring man. He always took care of our family. He took care of us and never complained when mom had to head off to help other family members. He was not only a wonderful husband and father but a wonderful son. When living in Rockland, Dad was the one to take his mom shopping when she lived in Queens. He bought her a freezer filled with food. He included Grandma on all the family trips. She shared our wonderful boating experience trips and joined us in places like Washington D.C..

Dad was always very involved with Richard and me. The only speeding ticket he ever got was rushing home from work to get there in time to see his baby before I was put to bed. He read stories using wonderful voices and very loud knocking noises. He always had a trunk filled with fun shaped rugs and cheap pillows which he would happily give to all of our teachers, family, and friends.

Dad brought Mom to Katz’s deli after a Broadway show on their first blind date. Every time he took Richard or me to work with him it would include lunch at Katz’s deli. He used to take us to the Nanuet airport to watch the planes take off and land, which always included ice cream. He would take us on 5am fishing trips. The best trip without mom was to the circus where he bought 2 of everything that went by: popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream, peanuts…. It was no wonder we both got sick on the way home.

As a family, we were often out on our boats. Dad taught Richard how to drive the boats. He showed him how to fish at Hampton Bays during the summer months. He was usually the only father in the audience for all of our plays and concerts in school. He went to all of my swim meets to sit for over 2 hours in a suit to see me swim for a total of about 3 minutes, good thing I was slow or he would have only seen me for 2 minutes. He never complained. The only time in my life I saw my father scared is when my cousin, David, gave him a ride on the back of his motorcycle just around the block. I could not believe my dad’s face. He was so scared! My dad taught me that day by just looking at him to never get on a motorcycle, and I never have. If it could scare my daddy that much I wanted nothing to do with it.

When Richard moved to Colorado, mom and dad introduced him to National Parks. Over the years, mom and dad took us on many family vacations to places they had already seen to share with us all the best places. Dad was there to help Richard recover from his stroke. Dad was so proud of Richard when he purchased his house and then was able to pay it off.

All our family and friends know dad could pick the best restaurants, and find them years later, even after one had burned down! He kept insisting the open field was the spot the restaurant was. We found out he was correct when we spoke to a local. We never doubted him again. When he picked a restaurant it was more than just ok. He just always knew if a restaurant would be good or not.

Mom and dad have always been inseparable. If we wanted to go shopping, dad always came too and sat on the couch with the purse. They had a true love story. When dad proposed the first time mom said no. She was young and wasn’t ready for marriage. A year later they got back together. As the saying goes, if you love something set it free, if it comes back to you it was meant to be. Dad let mom go but he knew she would come back to him. Dad lived his best life with mom traveling the world.

He was so lucky to have lived a full, healthy, happy, very long life. He will be greatly missed.

We will have a Celebration of Life for my dad on Saturday, May 3rd from 12:00 to 4:00 at the Golds’ residence.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.