Hi everyone, welcome to thanks for being here a short weekly pod to remind us of the many essential

and beautiful ways we affect one another. Every Sunday I'll read a submission from a listener

of Kelly Corrigan wonders could be wedding vows or about mitzvah toast, a eulogy, or retirement speech.

We believe this is probably the loveliest way to tap into our better selves and remember

our highest values. We encourage you to share this podcast each week with one person you love.

Maybe someone you miss need to bring closer. Someone you want to feel your appreciation or admiration

or both. This is thanks for being here.

Today's thanks for being here is from Keith Romano. Hi Kelly, my wife listens to your

podcast and encourages everyone she knows to do the same. I have been moved by your thanks for

being here episodes and wanted to send you the eulogy I just delivered for my father this weekend.

His is a life well lived and I'd love to share his story. Thank you, Keith.

This is the eulogy of Patrick Romano written by his son Keith, delivered on April 1st, 2023.

We are all so lucky to have known my dad and as his son I feel like I won the lottery.

You know one thing about my dad is that he was consistent. The man we knew at home was the same

man you knew in the neighborhood or in graduate school at WPI or at Westfield or on the golf course

or on the ball field and that is so cool because it makes me feel so much more connected to all of

you here today. We all loved this man for the same reasons. I hope that I can capture some of those

reasons in his eulogy today and that they might resonate with you as you mourn and remember him.

First, let's face it, my dad was hilarious. If someone cut the cheese.

If someone cut the cheese right now, he'd be the first to yell salute.

My dad valued physical activity, sports and competition. He was a gritty athlete with a competitive spirit

who played division one college basketball at AIC. He could shoot the three ball with a marksman's aim.

...