Staff Report

Last month, we asked our readers to tell us what made them admire their dads. It could have been their favorite memories, the best advice their fathers ever gave them or whatever their dads did to make their children think their father is a No. 1 dad.

The following are the responses we received:

Being a No. 1 dad involves being honest, helpful and fully devoted to your children. My dad has always helped me choose the best road to take in life. He is always there when I need him the most. If I’m ever in need of something, no matter how far away from home I am, I know that I can rely on my dad to be there in a hurry. I have four younger siblings, and my dad puts his full devotion to making us all happy. I love you, Dad!

_ Alicia French of Rockdale

My thing about Daddy is that he’s fun. My second thing is when he hikes with me and plays outside with me. I like when he pushes me on the swing and gives me an underdog. I like when he tucks me in at nighttime, and I like when he does great things with me. I like when he takes me to Stewart’s.

_ Emily Odell, 5, of Cooperstown, about her dad, John Odell

I like when he hugs me. And I like when he lets me climb up him and lets me do a flip. He gives us ice cream! I like when he takes walks with me. When he’s listening to music on the computer and I’m on his lap, sometimes we stand up and he dances with me.

_ Anya McGoldrick, 5,

of Cooperstown, about her dad,

Ray McGoldrick

My daddy is No. 1. He does everything possible to make me happy! He teaches me so much stuff. Like how to fish, ride bike, ride my four-wheeler and tie my shoes. He teaches me how to be a good boy, and tells me to be one for everyone I am with. My Daddy is a hero, he knows everything I need to know. I love my Daddy so much, and guess what? He loves me, too! I love you, Daddy!

_ Cameron Chabot of Unadilla

I would just like to say that my dad is a very special dad to me. As my mother was very sick for 20 years or more. My mother had cancer and a colostomy bag, which my dad took care himself. My dad gave up his own health for my mother, his wife. My dad has lots of health problems himself now. They have been married for 68 years. And he said he would do it all over again. That is why he’s so special to us. What a dad. We love him.

_ Edward Rooney of Mount Upton

There are two special memories I recall about my dad, Ralph Nissen. Whenever we four kids got too loud a the dinner table, my dad would get a pin from my mother’s pin cushion and say, "let’s see if we can hear a pin drop." We all quieted down to hear the pin drop. That was a cleaver trick to stop our talking for a while!

The other memory was whenever we asked him for money for something, he would always, without fail, give it to us and say "don’t spend it all in one place."

_ Lucille Nissen Conroe of Worcester

My husband, Paul, is a greatest dad in the world to our two beautiful daughters and the best soulmate I will ever have in a lifetime. With his love, support, trust, honesty, understanding, we three girls are honored to have him in our lives.

_ Joanann, Alexandria and Erin-Marie Omelia of Oneonta

My hometown in Texas knew my dad. He wasn’t rich, but was rich in heart. Each of us can say that we were all close to him, but I think that he was close to all of us. He had a heart condition. While most of my older siblings were married and had moved away, I helped him in doing things that most girls wouldn’t dream of. He showed me how to use tools. We even made a barbecue pit together. I wished that I could hear his voice once more. How I miss him.

_ Dee Chapa-Roveland of Oneonta

Dad, there is one word to describe you: selfless. You sacrifice for us endlessly and show us how much we are loved every day. It always seems as though your capacity for giving is boundless and there is never a time you seem unwilling. I cannot thank you enough for that alone.

You always put the family first, and that in itself epitomizes what it means to be a father. I know that I have someone who will always help me, always support me despite my mistakes, and always love me just the way a father should. I love you.

_ Jodi Allen of Maryland

My dad is nice, he does lots of things with me. He coaches me in sports. He plays stick ball with me and my friends in the backyard. He a good coach because he taught me how to pitch in baseball. He wrestles with me and my sister, Ava. He also helps me with my homework every day. I like when he makes macaroni, it’s my favorite. My dad also takes me to the movies and Dairy Queen. Sometimes in the summer we go up to my grandma’s and fish. He is the best dad ever. I love you, Dad!

_ Brock Echler, a fourth-grader at Center Street Elementary School in Oneonta

I feel truly blessed to have you as a parent. I may not display it or remind you often enough how much I admire the man that you are. As each year passes I value the relationship we have built more and more. I hope that as I continue to grow and follow my own path that you remember these things. You have had a tremendous impact on my life. In me, you have instilled morals and values and with these I will always carry a part of you with me. You have taught me to look for the best in all people and to have a positive outlook on life. You have set the bar high for all the men I will love in the future, but will forever be the first man I ever loved. And most importantly, please remember that I will always be your little girl.

_ Jennifer Allen of Maryland

Harrison Raymond Ross was born 1914 and married August Louise Banks in Unadilla in 1936. They were married 70 years. Dad was our rock and was always there for his grandchildren. In 1955, Dad and brother Richard saved a fisherman as boat capsized. That was the year I was born. He never told me. Being his power of attorney, I found a newspaper clipping. That was on Otsego Lake. The man’s name was Ray Hatt. Dad worked for Scintilla, now Amphenol, in Sidney. He was one of the first members of SFCU. He was a small, compact-built man but very strong farm boy. One day a big man kept picking on dad. When dad finally had enough, he picked the man up and put him in a big round sink. Again ,I didn’t find out until I started working there in 1977. The tool room personnel told me. Dad died on Jan. 14 and we buried him in the Beaverkill Cemetery. We all miss him very much. Rest in peace, Dad.

_ Stephen Ross of Franklin

My father is a No. 1 father. From the first memories I have, I never felt like I was in the way. I know at times I must have been. Some of my greatest memories were while growing up, my father and I worked on the farm together. My father taught me about the rewards of hard work. My father stands beside my sister, brother and I in every decision we make, even when he may not totally agree with our actions. Instead of telling us, "I told you so," he has always been there to lend us an ear to talk to, a shoulder to cry on and picks us up when we fall along the way. My father stood beside my mother while she was dealing with cancer _ never giving up hope, always being there to comfort her. Now that cancer has taken our mother away, he is the rock that holds our family together. He has taught all of us kids how a family should be, to help each other and be there for each other. My father, Gary Ray, is a No. 1 dad and granddad. I love you, Dad, thank you for being you. Happy Father’s Day!

_ Loretta Ray of West Edmeston