Lawrence Edwin Reissinger

My father, Larry Reissinger, loved life and took great care of himself to get the most out of it. If it weren't for this rare cancer he would have likely gone on to live a few more decades. I feel cheated for him. I desperately wanted things to turn out better than they did.

For those who knew Larry, nothing I write here will be a surprise; however, details about his journey, passions and unique personality will continue to be something I'm eager to recall as they have always inspired me and will continue to do so for the rest of my days.

Larry grew up in a rough part of Chicago with very few advantages. He was a naturally curious, bright, and sentimental child whose gentler attributes were a poor match for his punishing and cruel childhood environment. While still very young, my father formed the belief that would remain a defining characteristic: relentless toughness and discipline are our only way through difficult times.

Finding Karate at a young age gave him the foundational principles he used to guide himself and make sense of the world. Eastern philosophy would then form the basis for his earliest value system. At the same time, he became a voracious reader, finding history, particularly of war, his greatest interest. Through studying war, he taught himself about humanity's motivations and patterns, affording him insights into the people and events around him. He started playing chess in the Chicago parks, further developing his reasoning and analytical skills. History and chess seemed to give his brilliant, sometimes hyperactive brain something to ponder endlessly.

As a young adult, my father simultaneously worked multiple jobs while also taking courses at a local college. His first job "in technology" was fixing fax machines which he leveraged into understanding and being at the forefront of computers. Ultimately, he forged a successful career as a software engineer and took excellent care of his family. He often professed that our fate is largely the result of our life's choices and thus, he remained highly responsible throughout his life.

In addition to always caring for his mind, he rigorously attended to improving upon his physical abilities. Larry was an athlete who cared greatly about the fundamentals. He became a teacher of martial arts while playing several other sports. As a young man he ran nearly a five-minute mile and played baseball, football and racquetball. He was naturally a fierce competitor, serious about his style of play, and he maintained this drive throughout his entire life. In his 70s, Larry was on the court by five-thirty in the morning to beat the Arizona sun.

Through his wide range of hobbies and interests, Larry developed many important friendships. Looking back over his photographs you could see that he was happiest when playing sports or with his friends and family.

My father also loved animals. When I was little, he regularly took me to the zoo and throughout my lifetime, we often exchanged pictures and videos of animals. The way my father was with animals revealed his gentler nature, a protected part of him. My father also passed along his appreciation of the arts. As a kid, my father would take me into Chicago to attend performances. We saw The Phantom of the Opera, his favorite play, more than once together. I attribute my love of movies to my father bringing me to the movie theater before I was even big enough to hold down a seat by myself.

Beyond appreciating art, Larry enjoyed sketching and painting; he taught me how to do both. I was told that when I was super little, Larry would tell my mother, Susan, "I'm taking the baby," and then disappear with me for the day. Together, we would visit his old karate dojo, various sports stores, the zoo, and/or his favored hobby craft shop. My dad got himself and his friends into historical tabletop wargaming; he went on to paint thousands of models, construct realistic terrains, and host all-day scenarios with friends in his Chicago attic.

In the past year, my father reconnected with the hobby through Play or Draw, a shop in Surprise, Arizona, where he was so excited to meet several local players and begin reinvesting in this interest. Many of his models, strategy and rule books, and extra art supplies were donated to the store, which is creating a lending library of resources and gameplay pieces in his honor.

The multifaceted man my father grew to be was a paradox: both a genuine, fun-loving hippie and a hardened fighter, sincere and patient yet bold and decisive. My father exemplified positive masculinity particularly during times of hardship. For example, when my parents divorced neither ever spoke ill of the other to me, a rarity in such circumstances. Their ethical choice earned my early, deep respect for them both.

In middle adulthood, my father fell completely and utterly in love with my step-mother, Cindy, and remained enamored with her to the end. With this partner he was able to explore nature and find new hobbies in hiking and travel. They also took up dance and learned West Coast Swing together. Later, he totally embraced the role of Grandpa and adored getting to spend time with each of his grandchildren, Avie, Delilah, Rory, and Sam.

Throughout my dad's life he resonated strongly with stories expressed well through photography, movies, books and songs. He amassed a large collection of photographs that I will preserve and share in his memory and honor. Larry maintained his love of reading to the end of his life, striving at times to finish a book or two a week. Recently, he started a book series upon my recommendation and read every new addition alongside my husband and me. In regards to his relationship with my husband, Shaan, Larry frequently spoke of his utmost love and respect for him, reiterating a deep sense of fondness and connection.

Lastly, my father spent most of his life wondering about his own biological father. Having only a single blurry photo and a first name to go by, he searched for decades, believing he likely had siblings out there somewhere too. Gratefully, in the last decade of life he found them, which I know meant everything to him. The final years of his life were spent getting to know his two sisters, Jackie and Debbie, and his brother, Rodney, along with their families, sharing interests and values and creating memories he greatly cherished.

I could go on and on about my father, there's so much more I would want to include here, but how can you capture a life in a few paragraphs? What I hope to have achieved is a demonstration of my immeasurable positive regard for who he was as a person. I would joyously take another whole lifetime with him and it still wouldn't be enough.

Dad, I will miss most our long, philosophical, often existential talks. Even up to these last few months, hours flew by whenever we spoke. I will miss your mind, the sound of your voice, and feeling protected by you, but I will go on living your values and loving you forever and ever.