John Stuart Preece is 90!!
WWII Wounded and Decorated War Veteran, Infantryman RRC
UTP-NMC, University of Toronto, Industrial Enigeering
RCEME Corp, Lt
P. Eng
M. Psych
M. Ed
Brown Belt, Judoka
Husband to An Awesome Lady
Dad to two, almost as awesome, Daughters
Grandpa to six crazy kids
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| The whole Preece Clan, with some handsome additions... |
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| Mom, Lex, Auntie Barbara and Mimi |
Speech by Lex and Kathleen:
"I would like to take a few
minutes of your time on behalf of Alexis and myself, to share some of our
thoughts on this milestone in Dad's life.
In his late 50's, my dad
left a lucrative and diverse career to raise two, willful little girls. It was a selfless, and many days a thankless,
occupation. It was a position he had
absolutely no training for. He had no
role models to lean on and, having grown up with no father or mother of his own
to teach him to nurture and love children, it must have seemed like a completely
foreign and overwhelming duty. He went
from a life of professional laud and personal freedom, to being tethered to two
demanding little girls who were incredibly difficult to reason with.
In all of our years
growing up in Toronto, there was never been a moment that we doubted his
commitment to us. He threatened school
bullies for us, taught us to ride the TTC.
He drove across the country to sporting events and forked over countless
dollars to help us pursue whatever ridiculous endeavor Alexis or I decided to
undertake. He has driven through all
kinds of weather and at all hours to drop us off and pick us up. He spent an entire life's worth of time
enduring recitals, band concerts, piano exams, theatre performances, soccer, rugby,
swimming and hockey games, track and field meets, as well as endless parades
and thousands of church services on our behalf.
Our dad taught us
everything we know about budgeting, frugality and money management and both our
husbands have said, on many occasions, that they are grateful to have married prudent
wives. Dad has been generous to Alexis
and I, beyond measure, and we are so thankful.
Dad also taught us
perseverance. He was so convinced that
we were the smartest and bravest and toughest little girls on the planet, that
we believed him. He gave us confidence
and encouragement in everything.
A few yeas back, Alexis had
taken a then very small Miriam on a walk at my folks' cottage to see the fall
colours. The weather took a turn and it started to rain heavily. Dad
drove around for quite a while looking for her, and when he finally found them both, Lex
said, “I knew you'd come and get me.” I
retell that story because it a small incident that typifies what he has meant
to us. We have never feared being left
out in the rain. Happy 90th Birthday, Dad.