a biography of my father

10 Biographies of Awesome Dads

Father’s Day isn’t just about your  dad and the lame gift you probably bought him at the last-minute (another tie? really?). It’s about all the dads; any man who starts a family and then puts everything he has into raising his children. Most fathers aren’t famous, although considering what we put them through they should all get five minutes every year where their picture is on every TV screen for one minute and everyone has to stand and applaud. Being a good dad isn’t a new thing, either—history, even the bloodiest and craziest periods in history is crammed full of famous dads who would definitely get one of those “World’s Greatest Dad” mugs. Here’s ten super-famous men who were, among many other things, awesome fathers.

When Breath Becomes Air

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By Paul Kalanithi Foreword by Abraham Verghese

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Paul Kalanithi Kalanthi’s tragic story—he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at the age of 35, and passed away at 37—produced several amazing essays and the book When Breath Becomes Air , in which he frankly discusses mortality, his oncoming death, and his emotional reaction to it. One of his most remarkable decisions was to start a family after his diagnosis, and he ends one of his published essays with the following sentences (you might want to have a tissue in hand before reading): “When you come to one of the many moments in life when you must give an account of yourself … do not, I pray, discount that you filled a dying man’s days with a sated joy, a joy unknown to me in all my prior years, a joy that does not hunger for more and more, but rests, satisfied. In this time, right now, that is an enormous thing.”

Alexander Hamilton

Paperback $20.49 $23.00

By Ron Chernow

Alexander Hamilton As Hamilton enjoys a resurgence of fame and appreciation in America, including the recent decision to keep his portrait on the $10 bill, it’s a good time to remember that this man whose father abandoned him had a large family, fathering eight children, several of whom went on to serve at high levels and with great distinction in the American government and in private business, attesting to Hamilton’s positive influence. Hamilton was not, of course, perfect; a scandalous affair more or less ended his active political career, and his eldest son, Philip, died in an 1801 duel eerily similar to the one that would claim Hamilton’s life a few years later. Still, considering how much Hamilton accomplished in his public life, it’s amazing he had time to be a father—just one more testament to his remarkable abilities.

Charlemagne

eBook $11.99

By Derek Wilson

Charlemagne When you’re the first Western Roman Emperor in about four centuries, you’re obviously not living by other people’s rules. Charlemagne fathered nearly two dozen children while building his empire, but he was an unusually doting father who actually ensured each of his children received a first-class education, even his daughters, which was pretty progressive in the 8th century. Not only that, he refused to allow his daughters to marry in order to avoid political complications, but sanctioned common law arrangements and welcomed their (officially illegitimate) children with open arms. He even refused to execute one son who led a rebellion against him—which again, is progressive for the 8th century.

The Destructive War: William Tecumseh Sherman, Stonewall Jackson, and the Americans

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By Charles Royster

William Jackson Smart Smart isn’t the most famous Civil War figure, but his true legacy is the incredible affection his children had for him. That affection was so powerful that when his daughter, Sonora, heard about the newly-created Mother’s Day, her memories of her father inspired her to stump for the creation of an equal observance for fathers. Being the inspiration for Father’s Day is a pretty strong testimonial for your parenting skills, even if you did fight on the wrong side of the Civil War.

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)

eBook $2.99 $3.99

By Charles Darwin Introduction Brian Regal

Charles Darwin Darwin, one of the foremost minds of the 19th century, was an extraordinarily doting father who lavished attention and affection on his ten children. Only seven of the Darwins’ children survived to adulthood, but those seven went on to distinguished careers and contributions to the world on their own merits. As a man who studied the genetic lines and development of living things, Darwin always worried about the fact that his wife Emma was a distant cousin of his, and watched his children carefully for signs of abnormality, but happily none ever manifested.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

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By Barack Obama

Barack Obama Whatever your politics, one thing you can’t deny: President Obama has raised two remarkable children. The poise and respect with which Malia and Sasha conduct themselves while under the white-hot microscope of White House politics can’t be an accident, and anyone watching the Obamas must walk away wishing their parents were as smart, as cool, and as clearly doting as they are. While Obama’s political legacy may take some time to clarify, his legacy as a great dad is already well-established.

My Stroke of Luck

Paperback $16.99

By Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas is a remarkable man, still going strong at 99 (he claims the title of “world’s oldest blogger”) despite suffering a debilitating stroke at the age of 80. He fathered four sons, and while his family has seen its share of tragedy, it’s also seen a lot of success both in front and behind the camera as the second generation of the Douglas Family has carved out an empire in film and television as actors, directors, and producers. The Douglas Sons’ clear affection for their father is a monument to one of Hollywood’s great dads.

Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times

eBook $13.49 $17.99

By Thomas Hauser

Muhammad Ali Ali remains one of the most famous athletes in history, as well as one of the most famous sufferers of Parkinson’s Disease. The father of nine children between four marriages, Ali was very clear in his opposition to any of his children following in his footsteps as a boxer as concern over their health and safety trumped any thoughts of an athletic dynasty. His daughter Laila, surprisingly, was the sole child to follow in his footsteps; Ali eventually relented in his disapproval and supported her career, and Laila retired as an undefeated super middleweight champion.

Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush

Hardcover $35.00

By Jon Meacham

George H.W. Bush There have been two father-son Presidents in U.S. History; the first pairing was John Adams (#2) and his son John Quincy Adams (#6), but while Adams was obviously an incredibly capable man he struggled all his life with an inability to inspire affection, even among his sons. Bush is the contrast: a very capable, talented man who rose to the most powerful position in the world and raised a family that obviously reveres him—and whatever you think of his politics, there’s no denying #41 is a great father.

Empire State of Mind: How Jay Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office, Revised Edition

Paperback $18.00

By Zack O'Malley Greenburg Foreword by Steve Forbes

Jay-Z One thing to note about Beyonce’s album Lemonade and all the implications it seems to make about his fidelity as a husband: there are no implications about his qualities as a father. In fact, every bit of information we have about Jay-Z as a dad indicates he’s a loving, doting father. Of course, considering how adorable his daughter Blue Ivy happens to be, it’s impossible to imagine anyone being anything but doting—still, for a music mogul whose own public image is usually pretty dour and stoic, Jay-Z’s obvious love for his daughter is pretty heart-melting. Dads are half of the equation for everyone in this world, after all, and these famous fathers demonstrate that while they might not be perfect, they got at least one thing right.

Makiko Itoh : Not a nameless cat.

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A short biography of my father

As I've already mentioned online somewhere, my father died in late November. His memorial service will be held in February, at the church he attended. I wrote up a short biography for the pastors at the church to refer to in their eulogy (or whatever it is called that is read out at a memorial service) and I thought I'd post it here too, as a sort of closure. It is admittedly the 'good' version of my father's life, and leaves out a lot, but it is what I think is most fitting.

Masamichi Itoh was born in 1936 in Tokyo. His parents were Salvation Army officers working at a Salvation Army hospital. They were Christians, which was very unusual for Japanese people at that time. While he was evacuated to the countryside during the war, he spent most of his youth in Tokyo. Years later he remembered always being hungry as a child, especially in the postwar period, and his mother struggling to feed six children. He was the oldest.

From an early age he was very interested in America and learning English. In his teens he had more than 25 penpals in America, all but one of whom were girls, most of them blonde. His favorite American actress was June Allyson. When he entered college in the '50s, he grew his hair into a "regent" - a big fluffy pompadour at front, like James Dean - and frequented the dance halls of Tokyo, dancing the boogie woogie.

At the age of 26 he married Michiko Munemura, a 21 year old girl with big eyes. It was an arranged marriage, the usual way young people got married in Japan at the time. They eventually had three daughters - Makiko, Mayumi and Megumi. Makiko lives in France, Mayumi in Japan, and Megumi in Florida. He also has two grandchildren, Lyoh and Lena.

His English ability and his interest in travelling abroad finally came together in his early 30s, when he was sent to England by his company to cultivate business there. He was their sole representative in Europe for 5 years. After six months he was joined by his wife and two older daughters (daughter no. 3 was born later in the United States). Life was tough sometimes, but looking back later he said he really enjoyed his time in England.

After several years in England and a year in New York, he and his family returned to Tokyo. But back in Japan, he did not feel like he fit into his company anymore. Unhappy, he took the drastic step of resigning - a very unusual thing to do for a Japanese salaryman in the 1970s. He found another job back in New York and the family moved once more.

Perhaps because of so many moves, the marriage became too strained, and he divorced from his wife a few years later. He eventually found friendship and a purpose in life again when he joined the Universal Church, which became the center of his spiritual and social life. He found it very fulfilling to serve on the church's board, especially after retirement. That and his friends here [in New York] were the main reasons why he decided to live out his retirement in New York rather than going back to Japan.

Masamichi had a lifelong love of good food, movies, and travel. He used to keep file folders full of the business cards of restaurants he visited around the world. When he was in his 60s, he went back to dance class again to boogie woogie once more.

(See also: Doing business as a Japanese businessman in the '60s and '70s' )

Comments on this post:

Thank you for sharing.

Did you parents decide to keep the M name going or is that something that Japanese families do traditionally? We almost did that with our son. But I decided I didn't want tradition and his name is so strange to most people anyway that I just like it. Even though it's a really old English name. Your Father really lived a vibrant life, or at least it sounds that way! Thank you so much for sharing!

The M thing is just a

The M thing is just a coincidence, definitely not any kind of tradition. Though when it came time to name my youngest sister my parents may have looked for an M-name on purpose.

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Andre Gerard's top 10 father memoirs

The concept of father memoirs is a fascinating one. Confronting fathers directly and publicly is not, and never has been, easy: the patriarch should judge and not be judged. To write about the father is to sit in judgment upon him, and for most cultures this was a taboo too strong to be overcome. The Greeks, despite their searingly perceptive stories about father-child interactions, did not attempt to do so – nor did the Romans, the Italians of the Renaissance, the Elizabethans or even the Romantics. Paradoxically – but not surprisingly, given the rigid paternalism of the age and the attendant psychological pressures – personal father writing, like radical feminism, is a product of the Victorian era.

In 1907, six years after the death of Queen Victoria, Edmund Gosse published Father and Son. Once the taboo was broken, writers were quick to take advantage of the new possibilities. The 20th century saw a steady increase in the number of father memoirs and, now that the boomers are ageing and seeking to immortalise themselves, such memoirs are becoming as ubiquitous as tattoos. As with tattoos, some are visceral works of art. The 10 books described below give an idea of how poignant, rich and rewarding father memoirs can be.

1: Father and Son by Edmund Gosse

The first of all father memoirs, this is still one of the best. Interestingly, Gosse's first attempt to write about his father took the form of an official biography. Written shortly after his father's death on 23 August 1888, The Life of Philip Henry Gosse was admired by Henry James as "a singularly clever, skilful, vivid, well-done biography of his father, the fanatic and naturalist – very happy in proportion, tact and talent". Luckily, at least two other readers – John Addington Symonds and George Moore – suggested that Gosse should be more autobiographical and explore the father-son relationship.

Almost 20 years later, Gosse unburdened himself of Father and Son. Though the book was an immediate success and the reviews were largely enthusiastic, the reviewer of the Academy had reservations about the "close anatomisation by a son of a father", and the Times Literary Supplement raised the question of "how far in the interests of popular edification or amusement it is legitimate to expose the weaknesses and inconsistencies of a good man who is also one's father". Perhaps not always fortunately, subsequent writers, far more frank and confessional, showed far fewer qualms in writing about their fathers.

2: Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel

As Art Spiegelman proved with Maus , father memoirs can take graphic narrative form. Courageously original and lovingly honest, Fun Home is a coming-of-age story – a story of lesbian self-discovery – which also outs the father posthumously as a closeted gay man and a possible suicide. In intertwining her father's story with her own, Bechdel is conscious of being as ruthless as her father was in "his monomaniacal restoration of our old house". She, too, is a Daedalus, who answers "not to the laws of society, but to those of [her] craft".

Profoundly personal, Fun Home is also mythic. From the opening page onwards, it is a rich affirmation of Stephen Dedalus's closing words in A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man: "Welcome, O life, I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race. Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead." This affirmation is triumphantly validated by "the tricky reverse narration" of Fun Home's final panels, in which Bechdel's artistically resurrected, epic father is there to catch and save her child self.

3: The Shadow Man: A Daughter's Search for Her Father, by Mary Gordon

Mary Gordon sketches a passionate portrait of a deeply flawed man, a shabby pornographer with literary pretensions, a convert to Christianity who was so ashamed of his immigrant and Jewish origins that he hid his past and became a nasty antisemite and a writer of speeches for Joe McCarthy. In the course of investigating her father's life and of reflecting on the motives for her search, she also had his bones dug up and reburied.

The intensity of her obsession with her father, who died when she was only seven, is terrifying – yet readily understandable. The father of her childhood, after all, was not a real human being. He was a fairytale father, an Angela Carter father, a "magic uncle", a Pied Piper strewing candy and trailing kids. In trying to find her "real" father, in trying to come to terms with the lies her father told her, Gordon confesses: "I have done things to my father. I have remembered him, researched him, investigated him, exposed him, invented him." The one thing she cannot do is exorcise him.

Gordon is a spiritual sister to Sylvia Plath – who lost her father when she was eight – and despite her ironies, her literary inventiveness, her distancing techniques, she cannot escape the curse of victimhood her father's early death bequeathed her.

4: There is a Season, by Patrick Lane

"I circle my father's death for a means to get close. I remember my Uncle Jack pushing my head into my father's coffin. The taste of lipstick and powder will stay on my lips for ever. Kiss him, he cried, Kiss your father goodbye." There is a cruel courage in how Patrick Lane dwells on the memory of his murdered father and voices pain and grief. In the breathtaking, breath-giving tradition of Derek Jarman's Modern Nature, There Is a Season turns to nature and gardens for healing from the hurtful, painful wonder of life. With this fierce book, Lane, fulfilling a promise he made in an early father poem, Fathers and Sons, reaches "down into the heavy earth" and sings his father "back into the day", and himself free of the poisons of drugs and alcohol. There Is a Season is a lyrical masterpiece to be treasured by all recovering alcoholics, avid gardeners and lovers of Annie Dillard and Thoreau.

5: Patrimony: A True Story, by Philip Roth

While Patrimony's title hints at a postmodern game, there is nothing playful about the clear-eyed, plain-spoken integrity with which Philip Roth observes his father's dying and remembers his father's life. The father lives on in the "modest no-frills style", and the book is remarkable as a strong tribute paid by a strong son to a strong father.

Despite simplicity of style, Patrimony is an epic, with Roth as a Hercules labouring on his father's behalf. In fierce, moving, often comic vignettes he takes on a ghoulish, hate-filled neighbour, a psychotic cab driver, denial of antisemitism by Metropolitan Life, a pornographic Holocaust survivor, a quintuple bypass, his father's shit, and, repeatedly, his father himself. In a previous book, The Facts: A Novelist's Autobiography, Roth had said of his father that "narrative is the form his knowledge takes". In Patrimony, he links his father's narrative gifts to memory: "You mustn't forget anything – that's the inscription on his coat of arms. To be alive, to him, is to be made of memory – to him if a man's not made of memory, he's made of nothing."

Memory and narrative, along with the shit of "nothing less or more than lived reality", are Roth's patrimony – a patrimony he transmutes into this profound and heartfelt testament. Book, son and father merge into "the vernacular, unpoetic and expressive and pointblank, with all the vernacular's glaring limitations, and all its durable force".

6: Swing Low: A Life, by Miriam Toews

Many father memoirs are remarkable for their inventive excellence, but few are as original and as powerful as Swing Low. Miriam Toews imagines herself into her father's head, and brings him back to life as a narrative "I". Her imaginative accomplishment is all the more remarkable in that her father had bipolar disorder throughout his life, and eventually his depression became so deep and his mind so confused that he killed himself by stepping in front of a train.

Such a story would be horrific and depressing if it weren't for the calmness of the narrative voice. Toews's father was a Mennonite living and teaching in a small Manitoba town, and in her rendering of his interior life Toews also explores the tensions between self and community and teases out "the complicated kindness" that makes those tensions almost bearable. Despite the father's mental illness and suicide, Swing Low is a wonderfully sane and life-affirming book.

7: The Duke of Deception, by Geoffrey Wolff

"My father was a bullshit artist." Geoffrey Wolff's book about his scapegrace, conman father suggests you don't have to be a good father to have successful children; some children succeed despite their fathers. Wolff and his brother, Tobias, the author of This Boy's Life, are proof of that – as are, say, Winston Churchill or Michael and Christopher Ondaatje, three other highly successful men who have written wonderfully well about damaged, damaging fathers.

Father memoirs or essays sometimes provide the means for children to come to terms with negligent or destructive fathers. One strength of The Duke of Deception is the relish with which Wolff describes his father's failings. Wolff almost seems to take pride in the fact that his father was "lavish with money, others' money", and that he "was a lie, through and through". Yet there is nothing sentimental, mean or vindictive in Wolff's portrait of his father. In trying to make sense of his father and of himself, Wolff constantly tries to distinguish between "what we feel and what we should feel". The result is unflinchingly honest – a ruefully frank, loving testament and a brilliant book.

8: My Father's Fortune: A Life, by Michael Frayn

There are many kinds of father memoirs. Some are bitter and vindictive. Others are exercises in detection. Still others are meditations on disease or death. My Father's Fortune belongs to two further categories, the tribute patremoir and the sociological. Its closest peers, perhaps, are Doris Lessing's Alfred and Emily and Alan Bennett's study of his father in Untold Stories . Like Lessing and Bennett, Frayn uses his father to study the impact of class, community and historical accident on a life. Through his father he vividly resurrects his East Ewell, Surrey, neighbourhood, along with the struggles and aspirations of London's citizens, both during the second world war and after. Like Bennett, too, he uses gentle humour to bring his father to life again, though where Bennett's father is defined by "my suit" and "my other suit", Frayn links his father to a black homburg, "the last homburg in south-east London, perhaps in western Europe". Beautifully written, a generous, loving tribute to a plucky father and the gritty world that shaped him, My Father's Fortune begins and ends with the father's smile.

9: My Two Wars, by Moritz Thomsen

Moritz Thomsen starts his book by saying: "This is a book about my involvement with two outrageous catastrophes – the second world war and my father." Had he limited himself to the second world war, he might well have produced a brilliant book. His account of flying B-17 sorties from a base near Cambridge is riveting, filled with "the normal self-loathing of a bombardier", and conjuring up a harrowing Hieronymus Bosch world in which "we were as sacred, as moral, as marvellous, as necessary to Earth's intentions as ants". It is the claustrophobic, nightmare world of Randall Jarrell 's ball turret gunner .

Where the book breaks down is in its handling of the father. The best patremoirs are difficult journeys of self-discovery, as much about the writer as the father. Even if you are a good writer, it takes perspective, if not maturity, to write well about your father; and for every good patremoir, there are dozens of bad ones, books that are only published because of topical or sensational secondary material – incest or Alzheimer's are popular subjects – or because the parent is a celebrity. My Two Wars is much better than such books, yet it is too angry and raw to achieve its full promise. Top 10 lists are arbitrary things, and this book is on my list because of what it might have been, rather than because of what it is.

10: The Measure of a Man: the Story of a Father, a Son and a Suit, by JJ Lee

JJ Lee's book is fashioned with wisdom and restraint. Like the violin in Thomas Hardy's To My Father's Violin , Lee's father's suit functions as an object on which to hang emotions. It provides depth and distance. Lee skilfully uses the history of suits, and his own attempts at tailoring, to show how we construct ourselves, how we fashion ourselves as men. Like James Baldwin or Raymond Carver, he is writing about a failed father, and emotional distance is necessary to guard against anger or destructive bitterness.

Part of the pleasure of this book is that tailoring is for Lee what whaling was for Melville, and as the patremoir progresses Lee's suit becomes charged with almost as much symbolism as the white of the whale. Even if Lee shows the slow and painful disintegration of his father, the ravages of alcohol, the consequent damage inflicted on wife and children, there is no bleakness or self-pity in the telling. Even if Lee's 89-year-old mentor and father surrogate was forced into tailoring by racism, and even if the Chinamen's cemetery in Montreal was "the place to bury the people no one really wanted around", the focus of this book is not racism. This is a story about self-fashioning, about taking what you have been given, or have been left, and making the best of it.

Andre Gerard is the founder of Patremoir Press and the editor of Fathers: a Literary Anthology

• Biography books
• Autobiography and memoir
• Philip Roth
• Michael Frayn

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BrandYourself Blog | ORM and Personal Branding

11 Tips On How To Write A Personal Biography + Examples

We’ve all been there: agonizing over how to write a bio that doesn’t sound too self-promotional or fall flat with modesty.

“What is a biography?” you may ask. A bio is a piece of work that details a person’s life. In addition to basic facts, like education and employment, it is meant to portray their lived experiences as well. 

Writing a biography that’s professional and actually  sparks interest  can be tricky. And optimizing it for greater visibility in search engines can make your job even harder.

In many cases, your personal biography will define your first impression online when you’re Googled by:

• A potential employer or client before an interview.
• Someone at a networking event who wants to learn more about you.
• A potential client or customer looking to get more info before working with you.

And when someone finds your social media profiles, personal website, or company bio page, your bio will be there to greet them.

It can make or break whether someone wants to take the next step and work with you.

So it’s important to make it count.

1. How to write a bio about yourself that checks all the boxes.

When it comes to writing a personal or professional bio, there are a few items that are standard to include. While a bio may not have all of these things, if any of the following apply to you, then they should be included. Use the following bullet points to write out a list of information about you. From there, you can draw info from each line item to start crafting your bio.

• Your current role
• Hometown/Current place of residence
• Work experience
• Education history
• Special skills & attributes
• Professional accomplishments
• Personal accomplishments
• High-level personal goals & aspirations
• High-level professional accomplishments
• Hobbies & pastimes
• Personal passions
• Awards or Accolades
• Press Mentions
• Miscellaneous (What makes you unique!)

Starting with a list ensures you won’t leave anything out.

2. Introduce yourself… like a real person.

This is one of the most important pieces of understanding how to write a personal biography. Always start with your name.

When many people start learning how to write a bio, they skip this important part. People need to know who you are before they learn what you do. Remember that your most important details should go in the very first sentence.

Keep the first sentence short and sweet, either by describing what you do at a high level or going into more detail about your specific role. Aim to describe yourself in a way that’s professional…but also human.

3. Watch your word count.

When you start writing a bio about yourself, determining the length may seem like an afterthought – something that just happens once you stop typing. However, it is something that you need to think about before you start writing – and your ideal word count may shift depending on your primary focus.

From an SEO perspective, the more words you use in your personal bio, the better. If you are filling in the bio section of a profile, find out the word or character limit – that’s how long your bio should be. If you are writing the bio on your personal website, the longer, the better. Plan to write 500 words – minimum. If you have 1,500 to 2,000 words in you, that’s even better.

From a branding perspective, you may have a different take on the length of your bio. Perhaps you would prefer to keep things short and sweet or don’t feel the immediate need for a 1,500-word count. If so, that’s fine too. Cater your personal bio to your goals. Start small. The length suggestion can change based on your situation and ultimate goals.

4. Write your biography in the third person.

This is one of the most common steps that you may struggle with when learning how to write a bio about yourself. While it can feel strange to talk about yourself in the third person at first, there are some very clear benefits from doing so:

From an SEO perspective, writing a bio in the third person allows you to include your full name throughout the bio. This lets search engines know that this lengthy, original, and well-written piece of content is about  you . While making it clear that this awesome work is about you is important when it comes to search engine optimization, don’t let speaking in the third person become too much of a good thing.

Never overuse your name when writing a bio or include it in a way that seems unnatural. Instead, use your name when it is appropriate. By dropping your name too frequently, search engines may think that the article looks suspicious/spammy – or isn’t written very well.

5. Write a story, not a list.

When writing a personal bio, it can be easy to fall into the trap of rattling off accomplishments, but that’s what your resume is for. Your bio should go above and beyond your awards and get to the core of who you are and what you’re about.

Now, that may seem like a tall order, but with a bit of planning, you can pull it off. You can understand how to write a bio from a technical standpoint, but looking at it through this lens will help be your guideline going forward. Ask yourself questions like, “Who is your audience?” or, “What are the main takeaways for your reader?” and “What events in your life best illustrate those main points?”. Turn your biography into a story that engages the reader.

Those who have mastered the steps of how to write a bio spend a lot of time doing this. If you approach writing a bio like a story, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to differentiate yourself from others and truly connect with the reader.

6. Edit ruthlessly, analyze with free tools, and update constantly.

Your online bio is the authoritative source for you. That means that it needs to reflect you in the best light possible. This also means that it should be kept as up-to-date as possible. The proper action plan for how to write a bio is never truly finished because of this.

A lengthy, well-written, and regularly updated piece of content is like search engine gold. So when you complete your initial version of the longer personal bio that you will use on your website, know that you’re not finished.

As you gain more experience or perhaps shift your professional focus, include these changes in your bios. And keep asking other people that you trust to take a look at your main bios to edit them. Writing a bio is an ongoing process that you should never ignore for too long.

Read your bio aloud to yourself, use free editing tools like the  Hemingway app ,  Slickwrite , or any other number of free resources that will help you write a great bio about yourself that keeps readers interested.

7. Link to your work.

Regardless of your profession, it’s likely that you have samples of your work that are pertinent to the audience reading about you. In addition to being an introduction to who you are and what you do, let your personal bio act as a marketing tool. In case you need some ideas, see this  good real estate marketing teamwork  where you can draw ideas. Many people want to learn how to write a bio effectively, but they don’t spend enough time learning how to use it as a promotion.

You can do this by including links to your product, company, or service. Avoid doing this in a heavy-handed way since nobody wants to read a direct sales pitch when they’re trying to learn about a human being. Mention the product, company, or service in a way that helps you tell your own story in a natural way.

These links should enhance and illustrate what you’re already describing yourself. This shouldn’t be a distraction or take anything away from the main thrust of your personal narrative.

If you have a lot of work and accomplishments to choose from, be selective! Highlight work that’s impressive, relevant, tells your story and makes you proud.

If you don’t currently have much to link to within your personal bio, don’t worry.

Start by learning more about  personal branding . Make a note in your calendar, planner, or journal that this is something to work on outside of creating your personal bio. But don’t let this fall by the wayside. Set some time aside in the next few weeks to actively work on fixing this.

Whether it’s writing an article on your company’s website, submitting a post to a site that’s related to your industry, or finally getting your passion project’s website live… do it! And once that is live, get the most out of it by linking to it in your bios. Look to other professionals in your field who have a well-developed online presence for inspiration.

8. Don’t forget to share your contact information.

Even if you have a contact page on your site, or perhaps widgets on your website that link to your social media sites, make a point to include the most direct mode of connection at the end of your personal bio. This could be your email address, a link to your contact page, or a link to your LinkedIn account. When it comes down to it, understanding how to write a biography aids you in creating new and valuable connections.

By including this type of information at the end of your bio, you’re not only letting your audience know how you prefer that they get in touch with you but directing them to another hub that lets them learn even more information about you (if you so choose). Give some thought about what you want your audience to do after they have just been introduced to you through your personal bio.

9. Write a bio for all of your different profiles.

As you build your online presence, you will need different versions of your bio. They’ll vary in length depending on where you place them. So to start, don’t feel like you have to fit your entire life story into one bio.

It’s important to have multiple versions of your bio for two main reasons:

• From a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) perspective, unique content helps your profiles and websites rank better in search results. Why? Because search engines like Google want to provide a broad range of information, not content that seems plagiarized (even if you just plagiarized yourself).
• From a branding perspective, it’s helpful to have different versions of your bio at the ready for different platforms. For example, your Twitter bio will be very short due to character limitations, but your LinkedIn bio (called your summary) can be longer.

Both of these reasons fit into the bigger picture of managing your online presence. A lot goes into this process, which is why we put together this comprehensive  online reputation management guide .

10. Use an online tool to ensure the bios on all your profiles are well-branded and optimized to rank high in search engines.

Understanding how to write a bio is a lot easier when you have a little help. At BrandYourself, we’ve built  reputation management software  that walks you through building an impressive online presence.

It includes a useful personal bio analyzer that helps you ensure your bios across all profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, About.me, your website, etc.) are well-branded and optimized to show up as high as possible on Google. Just submit your profiles and quickly find out which bios need improvement.

If you want to analyze the bios on your own profiles,  create a free account now . Just submit your main profiles, then click “optimize” on each one to see a list of ways you can improve them – including enhancing your personal bio.

11. Get help from an expert. 

Sometimes you just need a second pair of eyes on your personal bio – or you can have a specialist write it for you. That’s part of the larger  reputation management services  we provide at BrandYourself.

If you’re interested in working with one of our in-house reputation specialists, we can help. As part of your kickoff strategy session, we’ll help define the most powerful way to talk about yourself, position yourself effectively against others in your industry, and ensure your bios are working for you across all your online profiles and websites. Our reputation specialists understand the ins and outs of how to write a bio that helps you achieve your goals, and it’s one of the first things they go over with you.

To learn more,  check out our reputation management services here . Otherwise, don’t hesitate to check out our other blog posts as you continue your journey in building your brand. And if you don’t want to miss out on similar tips and tricks in the future, just scroll up and subscribe.

Personal Biography Examples

1. noah kagan.

Read Noah’s full bio .

This is a good biography example that does a lot of the things we’ve mentioned well. Noah links to his work, writes with a friendly style, and even connects the reader with the people he works with.

The reason why we’re highlighting this bio, though, is that Noah makes it easy to get in touch with him via email. So many biography examples that you might find will include links to social media accounts only, which is fine. However, if you want to build up a fast connection with someone who just found you, email is the way to go.

Not only that, but because he wrote this bio in a fun and conversational style (the little mention about taco gift cards), it actually encourages people to reach out. Noah is great at building connections with people, and this biography example is no exception.

2. Katerina Jeng

Read Katerina’s full bio .

The biography example from Katerina Jeng illustrates how to introduce yourself like a real person while demonstrating professionalism at the same time. Katerina covers her background, useful traits, current work, and hobbies – all while keeping things light and conversational.

The balance in this bio example can be tough to replicate, but it’s worth exploring if it fits your writing style.

Going  too  casual or stuffy can leave a bad impression professionally and won’t give you the best possible opportunity to stand out. This is a good example of how to write a bio that does both.

3. Barack & Michelle Obama

Read the full bios . 

On Barack and Michelle Obama’s page, you can find textbook biography examples that show you how to write your bio in the third person without making it awkward to read. So many people struggle with this, so hopefully, these bio examples will make things easier by seeing it in action.

Both of these bios do a great job of not going overboard and varying the kind of third-person mentions you can include. This makes your biography more natural to read while still ensuring that it has the best chance of being seen when someone looks you up.

4. Darren Rowse

Read Darren’s full bio .

Using ProBlogger as a biography example for our tips is a perfect fit. When you check out the page, you’ll see that Darren wrote this bio to be comprehensive but also lead viewers right into his offerings (very smart).

He is mindful of his word count and makes sure to expand a bit more after he’s done talking about his background by continuing into what he’s working on now. This biography is a perfect example of how not being too brief can help the bio you wrote rank well in search engines while also catching the reader up if it’s their first time hearing of you.

5. Tim Ferriss

Read Tim’s full bio .

Tim is a master at promoting his work, and when he wrote his bio, he took full advantage of the opportunity.

Throughout Tim’s bio, he seamlessly links to his work, credentials, social media accounts, and books he’s written. If you had never heard of him before, he makes it quite easy to get up to speed and find out about his work.

One thing we like about this biography example is that he alternates between lists and paragraphs to help break things up. So many times, people write their bio as an extremely dense and text-heavy monster that ultimately never gets read fully. If you give the reader a break (especially in this age of skimming), more will be consumed in the long run.

6. Pete Kistler

Read Pete’s full bio .

Pete’s bio works in both his personal & professional story. Instead of being just a list of facts, it includes the story of how he was mistaken for a drug dealer in Google — and how it became the turning point in his career that led to  BrandYourself .

38 Comments

Thank you for your post. A bio accompanied with a powerful and enticing resume are your two most important sales tools.

When presenting these documents you only have on chance, first impressions count. Your blog goes a long way in creating the correct image with a bio.

Thanks again

This info was very helpful. Is there any info on creating a health bio?

Thanks for the input. One way I was able to create my own personal brand was by using a new website called personavita.com. it was really helpful in bringing all my thoughts ideas and accomplishments together. It builds credibility and others can validate my work. You can also create different Bios based on who you are showing it to. ( Future/existing employers, family, friends etc.) I think it really sets me apart.

Thank you for the tips. Being in the process of publishing my first book I’ve had to generate a bio and despite the fact that I call myself a writer I had a tough time with it. This site has given me a much better feel for the whole thing. Keep an ey on my site for the updated version.

I had the same problem lol I call myself a writer, author but this at first was so freaking difficult to write until I found this web site to break it completly down to like what first grade level for me. lol now it makes so much since. I’m glad we got it. 🙂

I know more much than the bio rules of the kindes of the people

Thank you. These tips are easy to follow and I didn’t know about the 3 bio rule! I really enjoyed the breakdown of the other bio and used that to help me get started writing mine.

Thanks again!

Thanks this was nice and simpe and easy to use.

Thanks! As a novice this was really helpful.

Thanks for posting this tool to the web. Over and over again, I recreate the wheel college course after college course and more recently for my introduction into the civilian arena. I am more confident now that I have this standardized method of writing bios in hand. Army Strong!

@Craig: Thanks, glad you loved it!

@Martin: Absolutely! Your bio is one of the most powerful tools to control first impressions. It’s got to pack a concise and serious punch.

@EASanders: The principles of bio writing apply to all fields. Think about what you’ve done that is noteworthy, and say it in as few words as possible 🙂

@Tim: Good luck with your book, Tim!

@LaKaye: I’m glad both of my bio articles could help. Sometimes it takes inspiration from other people to compellingly talk about ourselves.

@Rose: Thanks for the kind words!

@Martie: We’ve got a bunch of other excellent articles on resumes, cover letters, interviews, etc. if you’re looking to work on your entire career toolkit.

@Sapp: Great! The beauty of your bio is that once you consciously sit down and write it once, then you have a strong foundation that you can tweak for the rest of your life.

– Pete Kistler CEO, Brand-Yourself.com @pete_kistler and @brandyourself

Go get ’em tiger!

 Thanks for Guding ….. Wonderful tips..Thanks a lot

 Guiding

hi thanks so much for this wonderful guide. am so grateful.

great article – thanks for the tips!  you guys rock!

The tips are so helpful .  Thanks

thank you for the tips

great tips it helps me alot….

Thank you for this amazing and helpful tip.

supper is ready yum, come and get your biscuits!

tips are very useful. thank you so much

The best I’ve see yet

thank you so much this will really help me get in to the film fest from cruisinwithkenny

useful tips for me

thanx helped me alot

helpful tips…thanks!

That’s what I looked for . Thanx for that ♡♥

if you want to make a biography you need to know all about you ,family , and friends so you can write a biography

Really good information…especially the getting feedback part. While we may not want to hear it, we NEED it sometimes. Good friends who know what they’re doing can be very valuable in this situation.

So many things I wouldn’t even consider. Thanks for the tips. They are timely, since I am just going through a total rebrand!

You raise a good point, in fact you are ‘fixing’ something right now. You are adding your unique perspective as an ‘innovator’ in the information age that can assist other unlikely writers to get branded and ranked. Maybe it would be a great idea to answer questions in Quora, Yahoo Answers and the like. That can be your links to your ‘works’.

Nice article. thanks for share.

Surely in your many years of experience there are some good/funny/genius problems/solutions or stories you’ve lived or caused. Share them. 🙂

Thanks! TIps #3, #5, and #6 were especially helpful for me. I also find useful this article on how to write a biography so I recommend reading it as well. I also find really helpful suing samples. At least, it’s really helpful for me!

Thank you so much for this great blog. You wrote lot of valuable information about how to write Personal Biography . I like your post. I agree to all of your points that you have mentioned.

For me, the key to this article is section 6. Anymore, I DON’T think the expectation is a list of your accomplishments. I think the people who make the decisions based on biographies are looking for something different, a way to truly distinguish one person from another. A list says one thing about a person–a STORY says something much different. It SHOWS you are creative. A story gives you a lot of flexibility and opportunity to qualify yourself; a list is often reduced to a quantity. Dylan makes an excellent point about ‘sources’ or achievement; in a technician’s role, resolution can be rote, but my experience is solving problems presents lots of opportunities to get creative. David also makes an outstanding point: even if you truly don’t have anything that qualifies as an accomplishment, in this day and age, there are numerous ways to create demonstrable achievement. I believe that’s what the Gig Economy is all about. Dave mentions two specifics; there are dozens more opportunities. This could be an important consideration if you have been stuck for a while in a job that TRULY sucks. I’ve been in those. Then, the story REALLY comes in handy–’cause you don’t have to dwell exclusively on work related stuff. Never hurts to show people you are compassionate, or generous, or kind.

Comments are closed.

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How to Write Your Parents’ Life Story in 3 Steps

Have you ever wondered what your parents dreamed about as kids?  

Imagine you grab a book that describes the story of your life long before you were born. The words introduce you to a decade in which you didn’t yet exist, and the paragraphs move you to places where you’ve probably never been.

And you can’t put it down, because the principal characters of that breathtaking story are your parents.

As you read, you discover who they were before they met, how they grew up, and how their lives had the fortunate twist of crossing their paths. In a nonfiction book that describes your parents’ life, you can preserve those invaluable memories and connect, over and over, with your loved ones.

Writing your story and preserving your heritage not only offers benefits for your mental health , but it's also an excellent way to strengthen your relationship with your family and an admirable gesture to honor your parents.

But how do you get started?  Writing your parents’ life story from scratch is a big task, but you can make it manageable by following three simple steps.

Photo credit: Pixabay

1. Start a Five-Sense Conversation

The first step is to gather all the interesting stories of your parents’ lives. The research phase can be easy for you, but it might overwhelm your parents. Sit with them and listen carefully to their story. Enjoy that pleasant conversation — it’s not an interrogation! As they talk, hand them photo albums, old letters, or objects with sentimental value to prompt their memories.  

As you talk, focus on having a  five-sense conversation .  Your goal isn’t just to know the facts about dates and places. You also want to awaken emotions that were asleep in a hidden memory. To do that, the storytellers must work with their senses to access the best of their memories and speak from their hearts. In that way, you capture their authentic voices when it’s time to type those words on the computer.

To touch on the five senses, ask for details about what things looked like — colors, textures, shape and size. If there’s a song they love, play it, and maybe even dance or sing together. If there’s a meal your parents enjoyed as kids, try to cook that meal with them. Spend time with them and enjoy the process together, doing all you can to gather rich details about sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. 

Photo credit: Burst

Don’t be afraid to ask about everything that intrigues you. Invite your parents to talk about their dreams and downfalls, their struggles and efforts, their progress and their mistakes. Ask them which crisis made them grow, the happiest moments of their life together, and what advice they would offer to the future generations of your family — or the world.

If there are gaps in their stories, you can call on other relatives or family friends for additional information. Those supporting characters in the story can offer another perspective or a more detailed description of an anecdote.

To get more detailed information on how to prepare to interview your loved ones, check out this guideline published by the library of UCLA. 

2. Record the Interviews

It’s important to keep proof of those stories, so don’t forget to record your interviews. This will allow you to check back as you write to make sure your details are accurate. Recording will also free you from the burden of note taking so you can concentrate while they speak and enjoy a more natural conversation. In addition to preserving facts for your book, you’ll also have a treasured keepsake that captures the tone and timbre of their voice for posterity — an incredible gift for future generations.

During the interview, there are three things you should keep in mind:

• Make sure your electronic device is completely charged and has enough storage space before the conversation starts. Once the interview begins, activate the voice recorder and place it near the storytellers. It’s a good idea to do a test first, to make sure their voices are clear.
• Listen and observe your parents as they speak. Let them talk as long as they want, and try not to interrupt them — sometimes tangents turn out to be the best anecdotes! Pay attention to how their emotions bloom as they tell about a specific moment of their past.  
• Have a pad and a pen handy, but be careful not to overuse it or let it become a distraction. Write all the questions you have, and take notes of decisive citations and revealing thoughts. 

Your smartphone provides the easiest way to record your interviews.   Voice Memos  is the best recording app for iOS users — just touch the bright red button and let it record. If you have an Android device, download Easy Voice Recorder .

If you can’t meet in person, you can record your interview on your favorite video calling app. Zoom, Skype and Google Meet all offer ways to record your call. 

3. Digitize Photos and Documents

To help bring your parents’ stories to life, you’ll want to include photos in your book. Seeing your parents in their youth will complete the portrait you paint of them as full, interesting people. 

Photo credit: Getty Images

To round out the book, collect photographs, letters and documents such as birth certificates or diplomas. There are several free, downloadable apps that make scanning and editing these images easy: 

• PhotoScan  is one of the best ways to digitize old photographs for both iOS and Android users. It also allows you to back up scans with Google Photos for sharing.
• Photomyne is also free, and you can upgrade to premium features that let you scan multiple images in just one snapshot. It's free to download for both iOS and Android.
• Genius Scan and CamScanner are useful for scanning text documents. The apps automatically crop images and allow you to share them as PDF or JPG files.

Digitizing photos and documents is a great way to preserve them for posterity, and it makes it possible to insert images into your story as you write.

StoryTerrace Can Help 

Crafting a book from scratch is a thrilling project, but it can be overwhelming. If you've thought about creating that book but are having trouble getting started, StoryTerrace can help you transform that idea into a hardcover non-fiction book  with our experienced team of editors, writers and designers. 

StoryTerrace  takes on the hard work of book production so you can relax. One of our 600 writers and journalists  will interview your loved ones and turn their words into clear, compelling prose. With our specialized Bookmaker platform, you can easily add photos to the book. When all is ready to print, you’ll receive a beautiful hardback book worthy of passing down to future generations.

If you’re worried about not having the time or the skill to do your parents’ story justice, we’re here for you! StoryTerrace makes it possible to capture your parents’ stories in a professional book that you’ll be proud to share.

To learn more about our hardback books and writing process, contact StoryTerrace today .  You can also   subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss out on helpful writing advice. 

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Writing the Life and Times of My Father – Late Special Senior Apostle Sylvester Anele Njoku

Photo booth/stand at the funeral of Sp. Snr. Ap. S. A. Njoku

By Dr. Sarah Chidiebere Joe

My father, Late Special Senior Apostle Sylvester Anele Njoku went to be with the Lord on the 29 th of November, 2020. Although he had been ill for a while, the news of his death was still a surprise. For our family and many other friends, acquaintances and a host of extended relatives, Papa was an enigma and a force of nature. Therefore, somewhere in all our minds, we never quite imagined that one day, we will get the news of his final departure to be with the Lord.

Watch the funeral trailer/video here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYrRMzQpucE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

After putting into consideration a wide range of factors, we reached the conclusion that we needed at least one year to prepare for his funeral. At the time, most persons frowned at the idea but we knew the challenges before us and stood our ground. Many meetings were held, some went well, others quite chaotic – a type of chaos that every polygamous family knows and understands too well.

During one of the meetings, the new head of the family said: “Dr, Sarah, I need you to take on the responsibility of writing Papa’s biography.” Although I don’t quite understand why my siblings address me as Dr Sarah, I simply said Okay. But later that day, I began to question whether I could effectively capture Papa’s essence into words especially in ways that people could truly resonate with. I stayed awake for a few nights thinking about how to approach the task because for me, it was really important I got it right.

The inspiration to write Papa’s biography came after I spent an entire day reminiscing on my time with my father. The most significant that came to mind was a four-day journey I made with Papa to Funtua, Katsina State where I, at age 10, had secured an admission to study at Federal Government Girls’ College, Bakori, Funtua, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Our four-day rail trip was special in many respects. For the very first time, I had the rare opportunity of listening to the story of my father and by so doing began to construct a vision of life for myself. As I listened to him, I garnered an all-important lesson – All Things Are Possible If You Believe. Papa battled many challenges and, in the end, won each time.  He had very limited opportunities but always made the most of them. Even though our journey was fraught with many upheavals, he remained optimistic that that we would get to our destination safely and on time. And, yes, we did.

Lastly, during this journey, I understood why my father loved education and was willing to trade off anything to ensure that all fifteen of his children acquired the best. Knowing this, I resolved in my spirit to make Papa proud by obtaining the highest degrees in education. Today, I am proud I have done it and this is only the beginning!

Slide left to see more photos ????????

By the end of the day, I had remembered enough to start drafting Papa’s biography. I also drew up a list of persons to interview, to help me fill in any blanks. Chief on that list was my mother and Papa’s first wife, the lovely Mother-In-Israel Anna Njoku – I call her Lady Anne. Of course, Mama had a lot to say especially regarding their she and Papa’s “love” – a type of love that I have over the years found really hard to understand.

In three days, I had written the first draft and sent it off to some key members of the family for their comments. They were happy with the outcome and approved it for printing and publishing.

Biographies are essentially written to give us a brief insight into people’s lives, their challenges, failures and successes. They are also designed to inspire and encourage us to be better.  Today, I invite you to take a journey with me through the life and times of the man I described as “ Ogba aka ari ngara” – One who makes something out of nothing .   I have also laced this piece with images from Papa’s three-day funeral. Please enjoy!

The BIOGRAPHY of LATE SPECIAL SENIOR APOSTLE SYLVESTER ANELE NJOKU

Late Special Senior Apostle Sylvester Anele Njoku is an epitome of success borne of a rare combination of Tenacity, Hard work, and Love for God and Family. Papa, as he was called by his children, was born into the great Umuagunanna Family of Egbelubi Ndashi in Etche Local Government Area of River State on the 7 th of July 1942.  His father and Mother were successful farmers and were thus, revered and honoured by members of the Etche community.

Early Life & Career

Sylva, as he was fondly called by his relatives and friends loved to study. Although he lost his father to the cold hands of death at the very tender age of two (2), he did everything possible including taking on menial jobs in order to successfully complete his Primary education. Upon completion of Standard Six, he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. While he was not able to further his education, he worked tirelessly over the years to ensure all his children received quality education. This, for him, was a prime objective. Papa lived to see all fifteen of his children, whom he loved so dearly, graduate from top tertiary institutions in Nigeria and beyond.

Upon completion of his Primary education, Sylva travelled to Owerri, the Imo State capital to serve as a Cook to Reverend Fathers of the Roman Catholic faith. During his time there, he gained an exquisite culinary skill, one which endeared him to his wives and children. His children describe his Okro soup as second to none!

After successfully serving Catholic Priests, on the advice of his family, he journeyed to Enugu, where he worked with the Nigerian Railway Service. While in Enugu, Sylva joined the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim. A church he was completely devoted to and served in many capacities, including as the Provincial Chairman of Etche Province.

Sylva returned to Rivers State just before the Nigerian Civil war broke out.  Post-civil war, he relocated to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where he secured a job with the Rivers State Government as a Radio Operator in the state’s Radio Room.

He retired early from Civil Service to venture into the world of Business. He established SACO Nigeria Limited and from this platform, he served as a Rivers State Government contractor. He secured and executed many school-building contracts. He was also tasked with supplying food and beverages to many schools including Government Girls’ Secondary School, Ndashi, Etche. Sylva also served as a contractor to Shell Petroleum Development Company, Risonpalm Limited and many firms in Rivers State.

Politics and Community Service

Papa saw politics as an instrument for positive social change. As a man with strong leadership qualities, he decided to not only actively participate in politics, but to also vie for political office as Councillor under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). His outspokenness and bravery made him a very distinguished, respected and loved member of his immediate family and community. It was commonplace to find Papa speaking up for the less privileged, widows, and the marginally displaced. His home was a place of refuge for family members, friends and strangers.

Final Moments

Papa fell ill in 2012 and was soon after, flown out of the country to the United Kingdom for medical treatment by his most precious daughter, Late Mrs. Nenne Ordu. Papa had another battle with his health in 2020. He finally went to be with the Lord on the 29 th of November 2020, while hospitalised at the Rivers State University Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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Daily manna 15 january 2022: god fulfills his promises, covid-19: again, rivers state records highest cases.

Masterpiece…papa is a Gem….Rest in peace Papa

Sounds like a great man. Great writing too… sincere. I’m sure that Papa is smiling at this piece. Rest on Papa!!!

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• Funerals & Memorial Services

How to Write a Biography for a Funeral Program + Examples

Updated 05/11/2022

Published 03/10/2021

Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

After a person dies, someone in the family usually writes a biography or obituary about the person. This task sometimes falls to a friend or the funeral director may also help with the writing process. 

You may then submit the biography or obituary to the newspaper through the funeral home. Most newspapers charge families a per-word rate to print the article. You may also write the obituary for the funeral program on the funeral home’s website.

Check out our tips for writing a biography for a funeral. We will also give you short biography examples to help you with your task of telling your loved one’s life story. 

Jump ahead to these sections:

Steps for writing a biography for a funeral, funeral biography samples.

Think of a biography (or obituary) as a news article informing the general public about a death that occurred. Even though you may feel emotional when writing an obituary, this is not typically the outlet for writing about your feelings. 

Even though the biography is an informative article, it is up to you to include the details. You can include pretty much whatever you want, but it’s a good idea to get the family’s general consensus regarding what you will write about in the biography.

The number and types of details may vary, depending on the person and where the biography or obituary will be used. A biography (or obituary) read at a funeral may include more details than one printed in the newspaper or funeral program . 

Step 1: Start with the general facts

You want to identify the deceased first. Use the full name (with the maiden name in parentheses) and the age of the person. If the deceased had an often-used nickname, consider putting it in quotes. 

The more identification factors you use makes it less likely that your loved one gets mistaken for someone else. This is especially important if your loved one had a common name. 

Step 2: Consider including the essential dates in the obituary

Some families choose to include the birth date and death date of the deceased in the obituary. You can present this information in a variety of ways. 

Others avoid giving this detailed information in hopes of limiting the likelihood of fraudulent activity. You may provide partial information, such as “She was born to Bob and Mary Smith in October 1982.”

Step 3: Consider including the cause of death

The family must decide whether or not to include the cause of death. Most people who read the biography will wonder, “What happened?” This question may seem nosy to you, but it is only human nature to be curious about such matters. 

Some families choose to leave this information out of the biography, which is their prerogative. Others may view it as a piece of information that may be helpful to future generations. Some may give partial information, such as “Mary Frankie Jones, 65, passed away after a long illness.”

Step 4: Include information about the early life of the deceased

Most people choose to include the names of the parents of the deceased as well as the city of birth. Again, only include specific information if you feel comfortable; some unscrupulous individuals use this biographical information for nefarious purposes.

You may consider including where the deceased graduated high school and/or college. Include any brief military service during this section of the biography as well.

Step 5: Include other family information

Often, you list a deceased person’s marriages in the article chronologically and list children at the end of the article as “survivors to the deceased.”

For some, it’s easy to write about the deceased’s spouse but makes a difficult task for others. Again, there are no “rules” on who to include, so you and your family must make those determinations.

People agonize over whether to include estranged family members. You may also wonder whether to label stepchildren differently than biological children. Ex-spouses and long-term partners that never marry may pause you as you write the obituary. 

Each situation is different, so most etiquette guides recommend that people do their best to keep their relationships with their living family members intact by not limiting the list of survivors in the obituary. 

Step 6: Write about your loved one’s professional life

A funeral biography is not the same as a resume, but most people give at least some general information about how the deceased earned a living. 

If the deceased worked his entire adult life at one place of business, you would include this detail in the obituary. If he job-hopped but stayed in the same industry, you may include a sentence about his profession.

You may make this section of the biography longer for those with active careers. 

Step 7: Consider including information about community involvement

Many families choose to include their loved one’s involvement in community groups. For example, you may choose to include the deceased’s involvement in a specific church, civic organization, or volunteer group. You may also want to include any offices that the deceased held in any of these organizations as well as any awards earned. 

Step 8: Add any details that made your loved one special

There’s much more to life than work and club memberships. Think about other details you could include in the biography that would help people understand what made your loved one unique. 

Perhaps you want to write about how she was a Star Wars superfan and waited in line each time a new film was released. Maybe your loved one was an avid camper and fisherman and spent each weekend in a tent. 

You may want to write a lengthy exposition about what made your loved one special, which you should do. Use this information to write your loved one’s eulogy or share your writing with close family members. Depending on where you publish it, you may find your writing limited by the amount of space available. 

To get you started in your writing process, read these short, fictional obituary snippets. 

For a parent or grandparent

Douglas Richard Schrute, 82, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, June 23, 2020. His wife of 53 years was by his side at the time of death.

Douglas was born on December 22, 1938, to Richard and Mary (Sullivan) Schrute in Elmwood, Illinois. He was the fourth son born to the couple. 

After graduating from Elmwood High School, he joined the U.S. Army, serving his country in Korea.

For a child or grandchild

Mary Kate is survived by her parents, Michael and Patricia Carmichael, and one brother, Cole. Other survivors include her maternal grandparents, John and Tawnya Crabtree, and her paternal grandparents, Frank and Louise Carmichael. 

For a partner or spouse

Peter worked in the telecommunications industry all his life. He began his career at Southwestern Bell in 1973 and retired from AT&T in 2018. He worked as a technical salesperson for most of his professional life. 

For an adult without immediate family

Michael will always be remembered by his friends as the “man of 1,000 stories.” He began each conversation by saying, “Stop me if you’ve heard this before,” which no one ever did. He was the life of the party, and laughter followed him wherever he went. 

For someone who died after a long illness

Jack passed away Friday, December 8, after a long battle with lung cancer. 

The family wishes to express appreciation to the Elmwood Hospice organization for helping make his transition to heaven as peaceful as possible.

Take Great Care When Writing the Biography of a Loved One

If you are in charge of making all of the arrangements, you may find yourself overwhelmed by your list of “to-do” items. 

Even though you may find yourself pressed for time, carefully consider the wording of your loved one’s biography or obituary. Take care to be as accurate as possible by double-checking dates, the spelling of names, and other facts. 

Anytime you write something of this level of importance, it is good to have other family members and friends check the piece for accuracy, clarity, and grammar. Have others proofread the funeral program as well and help you pick which modern funeral program to include. 

You only have one chance to write the obituary of your loved one, so take your time as you complete this task. 

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Estate Planning

12 Steps for Writing a Eulogy for Dad

Nov 2, 2023

Losing a father is a heartbreaking and life-changing experience. If you’re writing the eulogy for the funeral, you might be wondering where to begin.

To craft a eulogy celebrating his life , there are 12 simple steps to follow to help you acknowledge the most important aspects of his time on Earth.

1. Find a Quiet Place

Consider going someplace quiet. Try being in nature, like a park or near a lake. You could also try a library. If you wish to be indoors, try finding a space in your place that is relaxing for you and has little to no distractions.

Proper preparation is key before starting the actual eulogy, even though it might be difficult shortly after a death . Putting together an impactful eulogy about your parent requires undivided concentration. Finding a calming spot will help you gather your thoughts.

2. Reflect on Memories

Start thinking about memories you’ve had with your dad. Try to think of positive memories that are easily recallable. You should be able to describe in detail where you were, what you were doing, and how it made you feel with your dad.

Start from your earliest memory of your father and progress to the most recent memories you had with him. Be sure to write them down as you recall them. 

3. Gather Stories & Anecdotes

Consider collecting other memories from family and friends. Talk to people he was close with and ask about their most fond memories of time they spent together. Write down the ones you wish to include in the eulogy.

Gathering stories is not always limited to just friends and family. Some examples of other people to include could be co-workers, someone he’s helped in the past, or people from a community he was involved with.

4. Consider His Values & Lessons

If you need help writing about your dad’s character, evaluate his values and the lessons he has taught you for inspiration. This is important because they’re what made your dad unique and special.

Recall moments in your life with him that made his character stand out. What are some topics that he expressed his opinion on? What was he a firm believer in? Also, try to remember the lessons and skills he taught you. What do those things say about him as a person?

5. Acknowledge His Relationships

Take note of the people your dad spent the most time with. How would you describe his friends and loved ones? Ask yourself, “What qualities did they see in my dad?”

Understanding your dad’s relationships with other people can help you learn more about how they perceived him. The types of people he surrounded himself with can reveal details about his character that could be worth putting in his eulogy.

6. Write Down His Passions and Hobbies

Taking note of the hobbies and interests he was passionate about adds unique details to make the eulogy more compelling.

Try to recall things that he enjoyed. This can be anything from building LEGO sets to being a big sports fan. Including these details will add uniqueness to his eulogy.

7. Consider Significant Life Events

Life events are important because they are what shape our identity. They range from milestones to things that significantly changed his life.

Remember, it’s important to stay positive. Avoid negative life events unless they’re tied to a positive outcome.

8. Decide How You Want to Organize Your Dad’s Eulogy

Get a general idea of how you want to organize the eulogy. Typically, it’s common for a eulogy to start from events in chronological order (from childbirth to adulthood), but you can be flexible in where and how you want to start it.

If you want to be creative, use a theme. For example, if your dad was hardworking, make the theme about loyalty or determination and include relevant content. If he was a loving, sympathetic person, then make the theme about love and how his life helped you to define it. 

If you choose a theme, include stories and examples that match it.

9. Create An Outline

Creating an outline of your paper will help you brainstorm and stay focused. Using the information that you have, arrange the topics in an order that flows and structurally makes sense to the reader. This will also help ensure you stay on topic.

If you’re struggling to develop your own outline, check online. There are many different types of eulogy templates that you can find through Google to get inspiration from.

10. Start With An Engaging Opening

Starting with an engaging opening can help get your audience’s attention. One recommendation is to start with a quote from your dad’s favorite movie or book. Another idea could be to start with a story about a special moment with you and your dad.

When telling a story, be as descriptive as possible. Try to make your audience feel as if they were there at that very moment with your dad. Include details about the environment to help people picture the scene.

11. Incorporate Humor at Appropriate Moments

Humor can be a good way to keep the audience engaged and lift spirits during a time of grief. It also make sense if your dad was known to make people laugh, which can help remind people of him in a positive way.

Be sure not to go too overboard with the humor. The way to use humor in a eulogy is to tie it to a story about your dad. Remember, the eulogy needs to be about him.

12. End With a Meaningful Conclusion

Typically, the conclusion in the eulogy is where the writer says their final goodbye and ends with a tribute. Some common ways people like to end is through a slideshow, a farewell song, or an emotional quote or poem.

If you need help determining how to conclude your eulogy, think about your dad’s values. If he was religious, consider ending with a prayer. If he was passionate about music, pay tribute by playing his favorite songs with a slideshow. Do or say something that you know will make your dad proud.

How to Complete and Deliver Your Dad’s Eulogy

At this stage, your eulogy should be about 90% done. This is where you add the finishing touches to make it perfect.

1. Edit Your Dad’s Eulogy

Proofreading your dad’s eulogy must be done before presenting it on the day of the funeral. Chances are, there will be grammar mistakes once you finish. Failing to take the time to edit those mistakes will likely catch you off guard when you’re reading it.

The best tip for proofreading a eulogy is to read it out loud. Doing so will make it easier to identify grammar mistakes and fix any sentences or phrases that don’t work well. Having someone else proofread it for you can also be an effective method, too.

2. Rehearse It Beforehand

Practicing your eulogy is crucial, especially if public speaking isn't something you're comfortable with. By reading it aloud by yourself first, it will make you feel more confident when delivering the speech at the funeral.

Presentation Trainer, Olivia Mitchell , advises:

“Rehearse your speech several times so as to desensitize yourself to your own words.”

Master most of the content before presenting it in front of others. Then, share it with friends or relatives for feedback and guidance. Continuous practice turns into a second-nature activity over time, making your delivery easier when you present it.

3. Be Emotionally Balanced

Chances are you will be very emotional on the day of the funeral. This will make the delivery of your eulogy challenging.

The important thing to know is not to worry. It’s normal if you tear up and cry. People will sympathize with you. If it happens, let it out and try to collect yourself so you can resume again. A good suggestion is to stop and focus on your breathing if you feel the urge coming.

How Long Should a Eulogy For Your Dad Be?

The average length of a eulogy is between 3 to 6 minutes . Eulogies are generally meant to be short and to capture only the most significant events of a person’s life. They are not meant to tell a person’s whole life’s story.

The main reason you should keep a eulogy short is because you risk losing your audience’s attention. When it goes on for too long, people start to lose interest. You do not want your audience's last experience of your dad to be negative.

With that said, there can also be incredible eulogies lasting 8-10 minutes. What’s most important is that it comes from the heart. 

If you have a longer-than-usual eulogy, bring it up with your funeral organizer to confirm if there is enough time in the schedule to fit it in.

Short Eulogy Examples for Dad

Below are a couple of examples of eulogy excerpts made by a son and one made by a daughter written for their dad. They will help give you an idea of what yours could look like.

Son’s Eulogy to Dad

“Today, we gather to celebrate the life of my father, a person who has been the main influential figure in my life for his remarkable achievements and ambition of leadership.

My dad was not just a parent, but a symbol of what hard work and determination can accomplish.

One of the things I admired most about him was his strong sense of determination. He, as an entrepreneur, had to deal with many people shooting down his ideas. Often, he was told he and his ideas were no good. ‘Don’t quit your day job,’ one person said to him.

For every person who doubted him, he became more energized with perseverance. He would spend hours of the night researching and planning what he needed to do to start up his own business.

Eventually, he found someone who saw the potential in his ideas and gave him a chance by loaning him the money he needed to start his business. Once my dad was given the funding to prove himself, he eventually became the CEO of his small start-up tech company.

Through his example, he taught me never to doubt myself and my own abilities. Curiosity is what drives innovation. Innovation is earned through hard work and determination. I used these life lessons to help me achieve my goals and many more to come.

Daughter’s Euogy to Dad

“Thank you all for coming here today, for my dad. Today, I am deeply honored to be able to share my dad’s stories, and that shows why he was arguably one of the nicest guys you or anyone would ever know. 

My dad was like no other. He was my father, but also a friend I could be open and honest with during times of uncertainty. As a licensed therapist, he knew how to listen and always had the right things to say to help me out of my downward spiral of negative self-doubt.

Since the day he was born, he always had a big heart and desire to be there for others. He told me about the moment he knew his purpose was to be there for people. It was when he was in first grade, when one of his classmates fell and scraped his knee and was in pain.

While he cried and the other kids watched, my dad came up to him and hugged him and wouldn't let go until the teacher arrived. This kind of loving behavior earned him recognition from teachers and his fellow classmates, but he didn't do it for recognition. He did it simply out of love.

His compassionate heart is what led him throughout his journey in life. He met my mother on a mission trip in Africa, married her, and had me and my younger brother.

Ever since I was little, my dad constantly told me how valuable I am and what good I can do for a world that needs healing.

Even during times when I would make bad decisions, he never would ever hold a grudge. He would welcome me into his arms and say, ‘I forgive you.’

My dad has since been what's anchored me in my religious beliefs. He may be gone now, but he will forever be in my heart until the day I meet him and his loving embrace again.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What is the best opening line for a eulogy.

There are many different ways to open a eulogy. A common way to start is to state your name, how you are related to the person, and how they were important to you. If you want to be more creative, start with a story or quote to set the tone and theme of the eulogy.

If you’re struggling to find a good opening line, here’s a generic opener: "We gather here today to celebrate a life well-lived, that of [Name], who touched us all with his/her love and kindness."

What should you avoid saying in a eulogy?

Eulogies should be positive and about the person who passed. Things you should never bring up are grudges, past arguments, their flaws, or any kind of negative memories towards them. Focus on the positive and make it about a celebration of their life.

What makes a beautiful eulogy?

A powerful eulogy captures the essence of the person who’s passed and is done so with emotion. Active storytelling can help your audience picture exactly how they were as a person and give the sense that their spirit is with them in the room.

How do you deliver a powerful eulogy?

Delivering a powerful eulogy simply requires time, patience and dedication. Devote time to collecting unique details about the deceased while writing with clear intent and emotion. Making edits and active rehearsing are also crucial in delivering a powerful eulogy.

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Writing About My Father

The first thing I ever wrote that I was truly proud of was a letter to my father. I wrote it to him on Father’s Day. I can’t remember how old I was, maybe 17? It’s all so nebulous, that period of my life. What I remember is how moved I was writing my thanks to him and how he responded to that letter. He came to me, tears in his eyes, letter in his hand, and gave me a big hug and thanked me.

I remember him looking at me a little incredulously that day, like he couldn’t believe what I’d written. Not the content, which I think he already knew, but the way I expressed it. Hell, it surprised even me. He let my stepmom read the letter, and she came to me with tears in her eyes. I already knew that words were powerful conduits through which we can convey meaning and emotion — I just never knew I had that ability.

I give my mom most of the credit for my love of literature, but my dad was always encouraging me and appreciating my stories. I shared an account of a near-death experience on my sailboat with him, and he raved for weeks and months and years about how much he loved my telling of that adventure. He has encouraged me from the beginning. I look up to my father — have always thought of him as a real-life superhero — and so writing became a way to make him proud.

My dad was my best friend for most of my childhood. I knew this early on and celebrated it and bragged about it. How many other kids considered their father their best friend? I didn’t know many. But I would get up at the crack of dawn during the summer months to go farming with him. I would sit on his lap and steer his pickup truck. I would dip into his tobacco when he wasn’t looking. I would lean out the truck window and throw up soon after. I slept on the floor of the bathroom while he showered, back when I was five or six years old. I remember it like it was yesterday. He would hold his jeans by the waist, jump up in the air, and shove both feet through at the same time, all before he hit the ground. My dad could fly.

I fell in love with my wife Amber while talking about my dad. We were at dinner. Amber and I had just met that morning, had spent the day together out on a boat I was captaining at the time. The couple that owned the boat were sitting with us on the patio of this restaurant, and Amber was doing her psychologist trick of asking pointed questions and forcing us to answer them in turn. She asked who our hero was, and when it was my turn to respond, I started talking about my father. I got choked up. Amber reached under the table and squeezed my hand. She told me about her father. We fell in love.

It’s weird to be so close to my dad, to consider him my best friend even today, and realize that most of my books are about losing a father. My parents got divorced when I was eight or nine years old. My dad moved into a house down the street, and so began a life lived between two homes. A life of every-other-weekends. Often it was every weekend. We spent a lot of time together. It wasn’t like he was off on another planet, but you would never know that looking over my body of work.

The first book I ever wrote was about a girl named Molly who lost her dad. She spends four entire novels trying to find him, to be reunited with him. Juliette’s strained and distant relationship with her father is a central theme in Wool. The final scene of that book was written fairly early in the process — I think while writing part 2 of Wool. All of that plot and adventure culminates in what she decides to do on the final page. And then there’s Sand, where a father’s disappearance tears a family apart, where his absence looms larger than the night sky.

I don’t think any of this is an accident. I love my dad. I missed him. I think I spend a lot of time writing about how much I missed him. We didn’t have to be dysfunctional for that to motivate my art. We just were who we were.

One of my fondest childhood memories I have of my dad was during this freak snowstorm in Monroe, North Carolina. My dad knew people wouldn’t drive carefully enough with the roads covered in snow. So he threw a chain into the back of his pickup, grabbed two pairs of work gloves, bundled me up, and off we went, driving aimlessly around town. Sure enough, we came across cars in ditches, the owners stranded. This was before cell phones. Way before. Dad would pull up and tell these people that he’d have them out “in a jiffy.”

He’d let me out, and the two of us would spin the locks on the front tires to put the truck in four-wheel-drive. I was so proud that I knew how to do this. I was probably ten or twelve years old. I’d tug on those too-big gloves and wave him back as he put the truck in reverse and eased down into the ditch to line up with the front of the stricken car. He’d hand me the chain, and I’d dive down under the bumper, looking for something solid to wrap it around. I felt like a real man under there, with the grease and the mud, studying the hidden bits of machinery that make cars move. Dad would inch forward until the chain was tight; the truck would lurch and growl; but we always got the vehicles back on the road. My dad could do anything.

But it was what he did next that taught me my biggest lesson — it’s the thing that makes me strive to be like him every single day. The owners of these cars would fish a few bills out of their wallets, sometimes every bit of what they had in there, and try to pay my dad. And he always refused. Waved them off. Threw that chain back in the bed of the truck with a clack and rattle, knocked the snow off my jacket, told me to get back in and to mind the mud on my boots, and then we were off again, looking for someone else in trouble, not a care of our own between us.

I don’t thank my father enough for inspiring me to be a better person. I write about him in all of my books. Always missing. Always distant. But that wasn’t how he lived. He was always there and still is. I guess even with all that time together, it was never enough. And that’s what I write about.

37 responses to “Writing About My Father”

Beautifully expressed.

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself, Hugh. In so many ways.

A wonderful account, thank you.

As a father to two girls, the younger being a senior in high school this year, I often reminisce about the concerts, the sporting events, and the little gifts and hugs they have given me over the years. I remember how my chest swelled with pride to bursting on seeing their accomplishments. And how my eyes teared up with joy at knowing these were my children.

Though my family was together for my childhood, I didn’t have a good relationship with my dad. We were too much alike in the wrong ways I think and we butted heads often in my teen years. I lost him in an accident at home just after I graduated high school at seventeen. I wonder sometimes if time would have healed our relationship — if he felt about me the way I’ve felt about my daughters.

Tell your kids you love them, and that you’re proud of them. Every day.

Great account of your father. I like how the story of the chains in the snow made into the hurricane.

Youve become an inspiration yourself. Keep writing. We want whatever’s next.

Mike http://www.cindercast.com

I’m so glad that your dad cried that day after reading your letter, and you saw the impact that your words had on people.

Hugh Howey, you made me cry.

Not the tearing up, sniffing, thinking “OMG that’s beautiful” (although it is) kind of cry. But the “son-of-a-bitch I’m sitting here blatting” kind of cry.

The fact that you can be so open, can express your feelings, love, and admiration so openly-THIS is what makes you able to create characters who readers fall in love with; and even love to hate. You are able to dream up great stories with your mind and your intellect shapes eloquent sentences that move people. But your heart is what allows you to connect. Thanks for that.

I too adored my father and unfortunately he died way, way too young. Almost half a lifetime ago. It still feels like yesterday. I’m not sharing that for sympathy or anything; just to say thanks for making me think of my dad. I hope your family blesses you for many years to come.

Hugh, this is very moving and wonderfully expressed. I was sitting in the cafe with tears in my eyes reading it. It struck me as a son, but also as a teacher. In China teachers become somewhat parental figures, even for university students, which gives a teacher a lot of power in a kid’s life. That’s why when I appreciate a student’s work, I always show it with my whole being to encourage them the way your father did.

Also, this instantly inspired me to want to write about my own father, but there are so many complications to trying to get a bead on a man, as it should be. So, I quickly wrote this to express my complicated feelings, and hopefully this will be a jumping off point for a future piece about him. Thank you.

—————————- Insect by WuWei Wilson

My father was a killer at one time in his life. He killed the grandfathers of people who I would later go on to love, to teach, to share my deepest feelings with. Somehow his path of pointing a gun, led to my path of pointing a word of friendship. But the blood on my father’s hands stained his whole life.

My father was a lover. He had love in his heart and tried to share it as best he could with everyone he met. Especially those weaker and more vulnerable to life’s crushing thumb. He taught me to love and be open to the grandchildren of the the people he once killed.

My father was fighter who thought most problems could be solved by force of muscle, voice or will. He would punish the bad in his eyes. He would use fist to fight his foe. Belt to punish his brood. He would see himself as righteous anger in the name of good.

My father was a philosopher. He knew that he could not change others in any large way, and you could fight and argue but in the end you just needed to do right by them and by you. Be good, spread that good. See evil, but don’t let it make you evil. Acknowledge there is very little distinction between the two.

Skin of stone. Heart of glass.

Blood on face. Tears in eyes.

A shout in mouth. A sigh in throat.

Hands in fists. Arms giving hug.

My father is still alive. He is still all these things in some small way, but now he is mostly just tired. Although I can still see the man there, the man that has been made by contradictions. The way life is made by dualities.

A honest man will always be an insect. Wallowing in shit one moment, enjoying the view from the top of a flower the next. My father was, is, always will be an insect. As am I.

Hugh, this piece in itself is inspiring. Your dad sounds like a great guy. Thanks for sharing a little bit of him with us.

Very nice, Hugh, thanks for sharing this. Having met & chatted to you, albeit briefly, I can tell your father would be delighted at how his boy turned out, and how you are not only writing great books but in the vanguard of a publishing revolution. Sharing your publishing experiences will act act like snow-chains and will help draw-out writers who are being sucked in to the quicksand of the “traditional” ways.

You made me cry. Lately, I feel like I don’t have the words I need. I feel like I should be saying all kinds of important things to my dad, but just thinking about it makes me cry. I try to show him, through my actions, how important he is to me, because my words are gone.

Absolutely wonderful story and a beautiful tribute, not only your family and Amber, but to “love.” Continued success and good health to you in 2014, Hugh. Jerry :)

I am a mom of two children, one of which is graduating high school in June. I have to say your story is inspirational in a way that you probably did not even consider. As a mom or dad there is also never enough time with our children either. I stayed at home mom when my children were little and I have always worked a job that enabled me to be home when they were home. There are days when it takes my breath away to look at a picture of them from when they were little because it seems like the picture was taken days ago instead of years. I have often wondered what it felt like to look at old pictures for parents who did not spend much time with their kids. I can’t decide if I think it would be easier or harder.

Beautiful piece. Both my parents are gone and I have friends with parents still living who often don’t want to spend time with them. It hurts me to hear it. It brings all types of tears to my eyes — tears about missing my parents and the fun we had, tears for my friends who don’t realize that precious time is slipping away and you can’t get it back, tears for their parents who surely miss them.

This touched my heart. I know your mom and dad. I used to hang out at your grandparents house, Hugh and Cutie’s, while I was in high school. I had a crush on your mom, but she was a few years older than me. I always thought Hamp was a lucky man. Later on, I even bought the land that I live on from him, on Wesley Chapel Road. You dad is a great guy! Just hate that he has moved from here. It is so refreshing to read what you have written here about him. So proud that you are doing great as writer. Keep it you. You make Union County proud!!!

Thank you for going into the ditch for us, Hugh. Just… thank you.

Beautiful. You made me cry-but in a good way. Thank you for sharing that with us, Hugh. Your love for your father does bleed through into your work, and it is a wonderful thing.

This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

Hugh, he is still that way 100%. You are both blessed.

Thank you for this gem, Hugh. You’ve crafted a perfect synopsis of who you are and how you came to be, probably not your goal, but there it is :)

That was very moving, Hugh. Like others, I cried when I read it. I wish I’d known my father the way you knew yours. My father died when I was 5, and at my age (67) I still miss him, even though I hardly knew him.

Your father sounded like a great man. :D

I remember getting out to turn those things on the front wheels just like that on my dad’s truck!! But never for the reason you describe. What incredible memories and what a truly good man. I suspect your apple didn’t fall far.

” I guess even with all that time together, it was never enough. ” that says it all about my dad. I am almost the age he was when he died. Fify-nine, way too young and so much has happened since then. Thanks for writing about your dad and reminding me how much I love mine

My husband and I have know Hamp, Hugh’s father, for a life time as we have know and loved Hugh for his lifetime! We love both his parents, but this essay about Hamp and his wife Sherry are so accurate! Hugh is a blending of this loving parents, but these times and experience with Hamp are profound! We share many good memories and life stories with Hugh and Hamp. Both are amazing men who are the salt of the earth and are grounded in all the right values for living the good and honest life. We are so proud of you, Hugh! Walt and Cookie

What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Hamp is everything you described and truly a loyal friend and neighbor! We are blessed to have both your dad and step-mom and our lives. Thank you for sharing.

You, my dear, are a mensch. I’m proud to know you.

Absolutely beautiful, Hugh! Made me quite teary. Your dad sounds like a wonderful man! And I’m sure he’s very proud of you! :)

Hey Hugh. Thanks for sharing. That touches my heart, both as a new father imagining how important I can be to my son and as someone who can relate. My dad was and still is very important to me. I grew up with my mom while he was in another state getting his medical residency finished, but when we moved back in with him, he was working like 80 hours a week. I cherished everything we could do together and enjoy together, from music to sports. He made up a cowboy character and told us bedtime stories about him. I’m sure that influenced my love of stories. I remember his excitement when I was old enough to read and get The Cather in the Rye, and how he took me to the bookstore to get it, telling me about how it was a banned book and me feeling a rush of discovery to have his permission and encouragement to read something that the system said was bad.

They got divorced when I was twelve and it was really hard. I moved in with him and when he soon after lost his job, we had my teenage years to finally bond, working together at a pizza place and having more time to chat and hang out. His self-admitted failures frustrated and saddened me at the time, and pushed me to not make the same mistakes–for both of us. A big part of who I am is influenced by seeing those and trying to do better, even though I have all the tendencies that he had which overpowered his good intentions and caused problems. This journey of leap frogging our parents may be common, but it is still fascinating and emotional. We love them for their efforts and they love us for the same. We (hopefully) forgive them for where they messed up and see in them the same idiosyncricies which could lead to the same results for us if we’re not careful. Likewise, they see in us those traits and lovingly try and coach us to be better than they were.

I’d comment about that and what you’ve written in Sand, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I told you how much I loved the sunrise scene. I love both parents in that book and the way the family unit is explored emotionally. Same as in the Silo Saga. I appreciate you sharing because of how much depth it adds to the reading experience, knowing you better as the storyteller.

Have a beautiful day, Hugh. Thanks again for telling us your stories.

Warms my heart to read about such a loving father and generous human being – enjoyed it!

My grandfather was T.M. Howey. He was from mineral springs area. But left to work for the railroad. His home was in Richmond. Anyway, I think we could be related. My Mother was adopted but her real mother was a Sutton, also from that area of Union County. So I am curious if you are a cousin… Polly

[…] Writing About My Father | Hugh Howey […]

Very nice :-) Our life is in our books. There is always a predominant theme, irrespective of how we weave the plot. Thanks for sharing

[…] week, Hugh Howey wrote a blog piece about themes in his writing and it got me thinking about my own. I have enough of […]

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Get to know the person, Celestine Ezeokoye.

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Thursday, October 23, 2014

A life of service: a mini-biography of my late father, john asiegbu ezeokoye, 20 comments:.

Lovely biography and well written...tanks

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This entire article is about Rochelle's downtown fantastic market on the library green. There are a wide range of libraries around us and we can discover helpful link books from any library. The thing is we should endeavor to peruse book to expand our insight for various purposes in our extra time.

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Wao your father was a great man.Its an amazing experience to read here him.If you want read about his earlier life then read here.Thanks for this post.

This really helped me in writing my Late Dads Biography. May God bless the One who wrote this. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this. It was of help to me while writing my late Dad's Biography. Thank you

God bless the writer

Thanks so much for everything sir

Nice one dear

Good write up. May his soul rest in peace amen

This helped me in writing my sister’s biography. Thanks to the writer

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My Father’s Father: Looking Into the Depth of God’s Love For You

COMMENTARY: Everyone has an earthly father, and that relationship, especially in light of Jesus revealing God as Father, is worth exploring

It should pain all of us to say that the present crisis of fathers and fatherhood has become a truism. The fact that everyone knows there’s a problem, that this problem has far-reaching effects, and that so few have any solutions, is troubling indeed. It shouldn’t surprise us to see, then, that as the crisis of fathers increases, so, too, does a crisis of faith in God as Father.

I am one of the lucky ones. My dad was as good a dad as anyone could ask for. Although he had a busy occupation as a doctor, he was present when he could be and longed to be present when he couldn’t, and we knew that. He was my first spiritual leader as well; I remember walking into the hospital chapel as a young boy and seeing him in the front pew on his knees, which to this day shapes my own fatherhood as a priest in profound ways.

But that doesn’t mean he was perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect earthly father — a fact that some know and experience more deeply than others. These imperfections, however, are not a reason to abandon fatherhood or lose hope in this most fundamental and irreplaceable relationship. Our identity, what we are and who we are, needs a point of reference, and in this, fathers play the biggest role.

This isn’t just true of fathers, but the Father as well. St. Paul writes to the Romans that we are “children of God,” having received a “spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” This, too, has become a truism, but it is incumbent upon all Christians to remember that this idea is a radically unique Christian claim. 

God is not merely a good idea, nor is he a far-off deity seated on a throne shooting lightning from his fingertips. He is Father. He is close. He sees “in secret” (Matthew 6:4), not to catch his children in wrongdoing, but rather with the gaze of love. He is tender and stable, and before him, our identity is solidified. As St. Francis said, “I am who I am in the eyes of God, nothing more and nothing less.”

For better or worse, who God is as Father is learned first and foremost in the home from an earthly father. Tragically, many take to heart that God the Father is as absent as their own father, and the road to true faith is unpaved and overgrown and, in many ways, heart-wrenching. However, even the greatest of fathers can unintentionally leave wounds that, in the Providence of God, give the Father an opportunity to heal and reveal his love through the Holy Spirit.

All of this isn’t to the exclusion of the significance of a mother in the life of a child, an importance that cannot possibly be overstated. However, the crisis of fathers today often means that women feel alone not merely in the physical raising of a child, but in the moral and spiritual guidance that is necessary as well. It is a special role of fathers to provide these boundaries, which young people (yes, even teenagers) both need and want, and to model an enduring spiritual life.

As a priest, it is a great joy to be a true father, a spiritual father, to so many. My task, however, isn’t to supplant the role of an earthly father or to fill in the gaps, but ideally to build upon a foundation already laid. 

As Jesus reveals the Father, I too, in persona Christi , am called to lead individuals to the heart of the Father. Have there been priests who have done awful things to betray this role? Certainly. Is that true of earthly fathers as well? No doubt. But these failures only serve to reinforce the fundamental need echoing in the heart of each person to be fathered. 

This is why I, as the president of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, have teamed up with 10th Hour Productions and Wild Goose TV to create a new documentary series on these themes titled My Father’s Father . The first episode airs Jan. 9.

In many ways, this is the most raw and vulnerable series I have been a part of. Not everyone has a son or a daughter, and not everyone has brothers or sisters, but everyone has a father, and that relationship, especially in light of Jesus revealing God as Father, is worth intimately exploring and fleshing out for the sake of the hearts of viewers.

In my father’s final days, he asked me, “And Jesus is going to present me to the Father, right?” In this, he was not questioning but solidifying the hope that motivated his life as a disciple. This, in many ways, is the purpose of the series. Through our interviews, discussions and prayer, we want to imitate Christ and present hearts, all of which are broken to some extent, to God the Father. From there, we leave it to the Holy Spirit to work, lead, convert and heal.

• franciscan university of steubenville

Father Dave Pivonka Well-known author and speaker Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, became president of Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2019.

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The Plot: A Biography of My Father's English Acre

Madeleine bunting.

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

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A Autobiography Of My Father : A Biography Of A Father

A Biography about a dad My father, Nat Umpornpuckdi was born on October 24, 1962 in Bangkok, Thailand. His parents Wanna Umpornpuckdi (mother) and Kanit Umpornpuckdi (father) and Pam Ratawessnant (sister) were all well educated people. My father was primarily home schooled up until sixth grade due to my grandfather Kanit needing to move around frequently due to his job. After being home schooled, he was sent to a boarding school called Bangkok Christian College for the remaining years of his education starting at age 11. At Bangkok Christian College, my father did well in his studies and was popular among his friends. Although the school was all boys, there was also an all girls school down the street that would come to join his school for Sunday prayers and special occasions. My father also was a great athlete setting and breaking several school swim records. He learned not to swim in the pool or at the beach like we do now, but in the river like most kids during those days. He said once told me that, “There were three rivers that came together and if you were strong enough to swim out of that without dying, you could make it anywhere.” He also told me, “During those times, several large boats would be in the water speeding through not caring if people were bathing, swimming or just wading around and sometimes people would get hit and die.” He was lucky and was a very strong young man. During his high school years, he wanted to become either a policeman like my

Personal Narrative: The Birth Of My Father

The Birth of my first, Jayden, was pretty normal, and he was on time. I was in labor for

Personal Narrative: My Dad

Hey dad I'm writing to you because I feel it's easier and it gives you more time to think. I wanna just tell you how I have been feeling lately and what I'm going through, okay here it goes. Ever since I was about 12-13 I've noticed that I never had any feelings towards guys and it wasn't till I started hanging out with a close friend of mine that I realized I really did like her. I noticed every little thing about her, I worked out her flaws, I could be myself around her she made me feel safe. The day I actually confronted her about it she said it was disgusting and that she couldn't be friends with me anymore. It hurt a lot that someone would say that and so from then on I didn't say anything about it I kept telling myself that I liked guys but all I did was lie to myself and I don't wanna do that anymore.

“Prove them wrong” When I was in fourth grade my dad and brother and I were playing basketball at our house, to help my brother practice. I had never played basketball except against my brother, Brayden. My dad would always be our referee and it was a lot of fun. Even though I never beat Brayden. Brayden didn’t think I was very good, and he would have to play easy on me instead of playing as well as he could have played. It really annoyed me I wanted to be as good as him or better because I wanted to actually have a chance to be better than him at one sport.

Personal Narrative: My Father Who Shaped My Life

If there was one thing that my father made sure I experienced from a young age, it was hard work. When he first traveled to this country, the only thing to his name was his suitcase and a handful of money. Shortly after when I was born, he worked from the ground up to ensure I had a good upbringing. When I graduated high school, he didn't have the money to send me to college, and I didn't want to be snared by student loans, so I had to find another way. I wanted to work for everything that I earned, so I joined the military.

This is what biking means to me. This is a simple moment but in my mind it’s quite complex. How it makes me disappear and how i feel quiet, and calm. My moment is biking down a big hill.

You know how when your a kid and you dont think anything could go wrong: well thats what I thought and then everything went wrong. Let me start at the beginning though I was born July 1st 1996,i was sort of an unexpected surprise my mother had only wanted one child and she was already planing on leaving my dad when she found out she was pregnant. Not wanting to leave two kids without a father she tried working things out with my father again that only lasted 6months after I was born and mom came back home with her parents with not one but two kids. My grandparents immediately took charge of the situation and helped there single daughter raise her children in doing so they took us in as there children. How you may ask well by they took us in as there children they literally took us in my mom

My father was a lifeguard, but not in my lifetime, so maybe loving the ocean was in our blood. As children we grew up in Brooklyn and we would go to Riis Park for our day at the beach. One very distinct memory is of my father as he stood waist deep in the ocean with my brother and sister; the waves periodically lifted and dropped them in the water at his side. Waist deep for my father meant it was well over my head so I remained a safe distance (or so I thought) behind them. Suddenly, a wave appeared and before I could turn and rush to the shoreline the ocean attacked. I found myself in a world of foam, pockets of air allowed me to breathe as I was tossed about like a wet sock in a dryer. Head over heals I tumbled, my skin scrapped by the crushed sea shells that covered the sand. After what felt like an eternity I found myself on the wet sand as the wave retreated out to sea; I’m pretty sure it laughed and gave me the finger as it left.

My dad is driving all the way to Minnesota to get a motorcycle. At least, that’s what I thought. He woke me and my brother up and showed us a picture of a motorcycle. To be honest, I thought that was what we were actually getting because we didn’t have any suitcases so it wasn’t a surprise vacation. I didn’t know we were getting a kitten. I did ask for one more than 5 times. My mom did show me a picture of a kitten that was ready to be adopted. Ok, I’m finished talking.

My Father-Personal Narrative

a choked sob escaped my throat as i curled up on the empty bed, the ache in my chest not seeming to calm down. i felt so alone, and so wrong. he wasn't here anymore, and i wasn't able to talk to him. he was the only one who knew that i was transgender, and he seemed to be he only person who could cheer me up when i needed it.

I dashed into the brush to find cover, the rain was pelting on my back. It was my first Boy Scout outing and we were playing a game of capture the flag, but the lightning was coming, we all could see it off in the distance.

I remember when my Dad and I were at my old house playing catch. After we would finish playing catch he would tell me what I need to work on and help me out. My Dad helps out a lot of people, like his patients. He is a very skilled eye doctor and helps many people everyday. He is also a very good athlete, ever since he was a kid to a grown man.

When I was eight years old, I realized I was slightly different from my dad, but very similar. My dad, and my brother, and I were sitting upstairs in our room and my dad said, “I’m gonna draw something for you guys to guess.” So my brother and I sat there waiting and watched him draw it. My brother and I were interested and what he was drawing and we really liked it. My dad made sure the drawing was well done so we could all guess what it was. He was getting close to the end and me and my brother kept trying to guess it and have fun with it. It took a minute for my brother and I to guess it, but when we finally got it is when I realized I wasn't talented at drawing like my dad and I don't like to draw as much as him. Although I had fun with him, we are very different.

I was in like 7th or 8th grade. One night, my mom comes and asks to pack for a night and get my shoes on. I ask her where we’re going. She wouldn’t tell me, so I didn’t get ready to go anywhere. Then my dad comes down and they start arguing. Earlier that day, my dad had drank like 2 beers while me and him were cleaning out our garage. We were going through some cabinets and there were bottles of alcohol in one. My dad took them inside to hide them inside because her and one of her friends had gotten drunk one night and her friend hit his head and fell down his steps. So as he was carrying them inside, my dad dropped one of the bottles and it fell down our step. Luckily it didn’t break. My dad and brother were arguing over something earlier

What keeps me up at night is how privileged I am. My father grew up in a very poverty stricken town, Guanajuato. Even though his family owned a great deal of land to cultivate fruits, they were barely able to make ends meet. My Grandma and father would have to wake up at 5 am to walk all the way to the other side of town and then catch a bus to a nearby town, Celaya, to sell what they had harvested. While there, my father would go to a nearby wasteland to find any old toys or clothes others had thrown out. This was a continuous thing until my dad, at the age of 15 decided to come to the United States, with nothing else other than a few extra pairs of raggedy clothes, that he had gotten from the wasteland. My father stayed in Texas to help provide

My dad and I were in the car going to our my first organized basketball game. My heart was pounding I was already sweating and I was the most nervous I have ever been in my whole entire life!

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I planned on confronting my absent father about his parenting. But when I asked to hear his side, I learned a powerful lesson.

• My father was absent throughout most of my life, so I went to Ghana to confront him about it. 
• In Ghana, I learned about my father's past and understood his perspective for the first time. 
• Although we will never be close, the conversation healed our relationship and taught me empathy. 

A few years ago, I visited my father in Ghana and asked to hear his story about why he was an absent parent . This conversation helped me heal, forgive, and transform how I view disagreements today.

At the time, I had a lot of built-up resentment and anger toward my dad. In my mind, he stopped making a meaningful effort to see me or show up for me after he remarried. He and his new family lived in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Finland — while my mom, my brother, and I initially struggled with being unhoused and being on welfare here in the US.

I dealt with a lot of feelings of rejection , which I'd reflected on and worked through in therapy during my 20s. But in my 30s, it all came back, and I needed to deal with it head-on.

I decided to meet with my father to talk things through

There were times when I'd be driving, and I'd find myself weeping, questioning what I'd done to cause him not to fight for me. It was clear his rejection of me was still affecting the way I move about the world.

During a leadership training program, my cohort and I discussed our origins. I shared with the cohort that I had an upcoming trip to Ghana, and I had plans to confront my father.

Politely, a cohort member raised their hand. "Hey, what would it look like if you took a different approach?" he asked. "We all have empathy for each other because we know each other's stories."

I felt my heart rate quicken and my jaw clench in defensiveness. Despite my defensiveness, his words planted a seed that I brought up with my therapist. Together, my therapist and I started preparing for how I would turn my "confrontation" into a "conversation" with my father.

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When the time came for my kids and me to travel to Ghana, I asked my father for one-on-one time and broached the topic.

"Hey, Dad, I never really heard your story. What was life like growing up for you, and what happened between us?"

My father told me about his journey with his dad, his custody struggles , and the interpersonal conflicts between him and my mother. Eventually, he explained that he concluded: "Justin will come find me when he's ready."

I also asked my father to share his experiences growing up

My father grew up in Ghana, and his own father was only a kid at the time. My father also left his entire family for boarding school at 14 years old, and at 16, he left Ghana to come to the US.

Hearing this story, a lump formed in my throat as I felt — for the first time — empathy for my dad. I wonder how he felt as a little boy.

Fully immersing myself in my dad's story wasn't easy. It was challenging to remove my biased perspective of anger and distrust. I pushed myself to engage from a place of curiosity and ask him questions as if I was a student.

Hearing my dad's story helped me understand

At the end of our conversation, I told my father I disagreed with his approach but understood how he arrived at his conclusion. We hugged, and my father told me he was proud of me, which I never heard growing up.

This conversation did not transform us into a father-son duo holding hands and walking into the sunset. My dad's decision not to fight for a place in my life robbed both of us of father-son experiences that we can never get back.

However, this conversation gave me access to my heritage, Ghana, which I'd previously avoided. This allowed me to get involved in social entrepreneurial projects, like working with an elementary school and hiring and training Ghanaian staff members.

It also gave me access to an incredible mentor, my father . Previously, I avoided my dad. Now, I actively seek him out, particularly when I need feedback on a project.

Perhaps most importantly, this conversation taught me a profound lesson I now apply to every area of my life. I learned that when we do not seek to understand and respect the person we disagree with, it only hurts us.

That day, if I had chosen to confront my father from a place of vitriol and anger, his rejection would still haunt me, and I would have never learned the powerful lesson that every person has a story that shapes who they are today.

Watch: I was assaulted by a Met Police officer at 14, I now train them. Here's how police racism works

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Iconic Fathers: 15 Great Dads In Movies

Posted: December 5, 2023 | Last updated: December 5, 2023

Arthur Weasley - 'Harry Potter'

Arthur is a loving father who values his family over material wealth. Despite the challenges of raising seven children, he always maintains a positive attitude and supports his kids' individuality. However, he is also a great father figure for Harry, who certainly needs it.

Some of the things that make Arthur such a great dad include his open-mindedness, which he showcases with his fascination with Muggles, as well as his trust in his kids' (and Harry's) abilities without stopping taking care of them.

Atticus Finch - 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

'To Kill A Mockingbird' is not only a Pulitzer-winner novel, but a modern classic that has moved generations of readers. And the 1962 adaptation by Robert Mulligan did justice to the book, and its character, especially Atticus Finch, portrayed by the great Gregory Peck.

As a father, Atticus is a moral compass, teaching his children about justice, empathy, and equality. As a lawyer defending an innocent black man in a racially charged society, he imparts invaluable life lessons to Scout and Jem about integrity and standing up for what is right.

Mac MacGuff - 'Juno'

Part of being a father is trying to guide your children to make good decisions, however, it’s even more important to support them when things don’t go according to plan. And that’s exactly what Mac MacGuff, portrayed by J.K. Simmons, does in 'Juno.'

Mac is an understanding and open-minded father, and he handles Juno’s unexpected teenage pregnancy with grace, supporting her decisions. Thanks to his non-judgmental approach, he is able to maintain a healthy relationship with her.

Marlin - 'Finding Nemo'

It’s true that at the start of the film, Marlin doesn’t trust Nemo’s ability to deal with the dangers of the sea. However, let’s remember that he was also dealing with the trauma of losing his wife and his other children, and didn’t want to lose him too.

However, after his son is taken, he exhibits unwavering dedication and courage as he embarks on a perilous journey to find him. Throughout the adventure, he learns to trust and allow Nemo some independence.

Charlie Swan - 'Twilight'

Poor Charlie doesn’t know what he is actually dealing with. While it’s true that in the 'Twilight' saga, probably all of the fandom would think of Carlisle Cullen as the best dad out there (and we’re not denying that), we think that Charlie deserves some flowers too.

While he might not be much of a talker and definitely doesn’t always know the right way to connect with Bella, he is caring and understanding, and always respects his daughter's choices. And, let’s not forget that he didn’t ask any questions about the whole supernatural thing, just because he only cared about her safety and being able to be in her life.

Furious Styles - 'Boyz n the Hood'

One of the most challenging aspects of being a father is having to teach your kids how to not give in to the pressures of the environment. And that’s especially true when he is raising them in a difficult neighborhood.

And that’s why Furious is such a positive role model. He instills values of education, responsibility, and self-respect in his son, Trey. Furious strives to break the cycle of violence and poverty, making him a great dad.

Chris Gardner - 'The Pursuit Of Happyness'

'The Pursuit of Happyness' is all about the father and son relationship between Chris and Christopher Jr. That’s why Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden’s portrayal of the characters is what elevates the drama.

Chris's determination to provide a better life for his son, despite facing homelessness and challenges, showcases his resilience and love. His unwavering commitment to fatherhood and pursuit of happiness is truly inspiring.

Noah Levenstein - 'American Pie' Franchise

One of the most relatable examples of fathers on the list. Noah Levenstein (Eugene Levy) is kind of nerdy and frequently finds himself in utterly embarrassing situations. Despite this, Mr. L proves to be the type of father most kids would genuinely appreciate.

He is an approachable father and his awkward yet sincere conversations with Jim not only offer comedic relief, but showcase that he always understands that the kids need more guidance than lectures.

Mufasa - 'The Lion King'

Who would have thought that an animated film about lions inspired by William Shakespeare’s Hamlet would have become such a classic? However, it’s true. And, not only that, it gives us one of the best father figures in cinema, Mufasa.

While, sadly, he is not around for the most part of the movie, Mufasa is a wise and powerful leader who imparts important life lessons to Simba. His love, guidance, and sacrifice for his son demonstrate the qualities of a noble and caring dad.

Uncle Ben - Spider-Man

As we said, not all dads in the list are the biological father of the children they take care of. In that group, Uncle Ben from Spider-Man is one of the most iconic and best father figures as his lessons will stay with Peter forever.

Uncle Ben serves as a moral compass for Peter. His famous life, 'With great power must come great responsibility,' encapsulates his fatherly wisdom and emphasizes the importance of using one's abilities for the greater good.

Ted Kramer - 'Kramer vs. Kramer'

It’s true that in the US (and probably in the world), most of the single parent families are led by mothers. However, that doesn’t mean that single fathers have it easy too. And one great example of that in film is Ted Kramer, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. Ted undergoes significant personal growth as a father after his wife leaves, becoming a more involved and caring parent to his son, Billy. And, when Joanna (played by Meryl Streep) tried to come back and win custody of Billy, Ted’s self-sacrifice ultimately made him the better choice.

Mr. Perlman - 'Call Me By Your Name'

A great quality that a father can have is being able to accept his children exactly as they are. And, sadly, not all parents can do so. So, it’s nice to have an example of what a beautiful bond can form when trust and respect are in the front center of the relationship.

In 'Call Me By Your Name,' Mr. Perlman is a supportive and understanding father who encourages his son, Elio, to explore his emotions and relationships, even when they won’t be accepted by society. His wisdom creates a warm and nurturing environment for Elio to grow.

Jonathan Kent, Superman

Superman is connected to two fathers, yet his true paternal influence lies with Jonathan Kent, his adoptive father on Earth. While he never truly knew his birth father, Jor-El from the planet Krypton, it was Jonathan who nurtured Superman into a humble and considerate individual.

Under Jonathan's guidance, Superman learned to utilize his powers for the greater good—to promote peace and shield Earth from the gravest threats of evil. Jonathan's teachings emphasized compassion, justice, and the importance of using one's abilities to uplift others.

Daniel Hillard - 'Mrs. Doubtfire'

Despite his eccentric approach to parenting, and probably life-long trauma caused to his kids, Daniel's genuine love for his children is evident. Portrayed by Robin Williams, Daniel poses as their nanny after he loses custody.

What other thing but love would make someone dress up in prosthetics and dresses every day? His determination to remain a part of their lives, even through unconventional means, reflects his commitment to being a loving father.

Bob Ivanovich - 'My Life'

This might be one of the most heartbreaking examples on the list. Being a father is also about spending time with your kids and being with them in their most important moments. However, sometimes, sadly, that’s not possible.

In this case, Bob Ivanovich, portrayed by Michael Keaton, creates video messages for his unborn son after he is diagnosed with a terminal illness. His dedication to leaving a lasting legacy for his child and imparting fatherly advice showcases the depth of his love.

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'Worst day of my life': Maine father recounts day his children were shot on I-295

by Brad Rogers , WGME

It's been one year since police found four people murdered in a Bowdoin home allegedly at the hands of one of the couple's own son.

Murder suspect Joseph Eaton’s parents, David and Cynthia Eaton, along with the Eaton's close friends, Bobby and Patti Eger, were found dead in the Eger's home.

The Egers had agreed to temporarily house Joseph Eaton after he had just gotten out of prison as a favor to their friends.

• Also read: Bowdoin quadruple murder suspect withdrawing insanity plea

The following morning, police arrested Joseph Eaton at Exit 15 in Yarmouth.

Maine State Police say he also admitted to firing at vehicles on I-295, the morning after the four murders, because he thought police were pursuing him.

Witnesses told CBS13 they saw Eaton and his car with the windshield shot out.

A brother and sister, both in their 20s, were hit by bullets fired at their car.

"It’s awful. It’s so weird to think that we were right behind them when this happened,” said Cassidy Voisine, who witnessed the shooting on I-295. “It could have been us. And there’s a baby in the back seat, too. So, this is crazy.”

“He was pointing the gun to shoot someone. He was not waving a pistol around in the air. He wasn’t doing anything you know to like distract me. He was trying to shoot me,” said Rose Clayton, a Colby College student.

The brother and sister shot and wounded on I-295 were with their dad. They'd left their home in Bowdoinham that morning to go shopping in Portland.

• Also read: Court documents reveal new details about quadruple murder in Bowdoin

Sean Halsey knows the bullets that hit his children came oh so close to taking their lives. He says his son saw the gunman right before he opened fire on them.

"My son was in the back seat. and he actually locked eyes with him as we were passing him. He was in the right-side lane. And we went by and he kind of swerved a little bit over, and I just kept on going and didn't think anything of it,” Sean said.

Sean was driving south on I-295 in Yarmouth, with his adult son and daughter, when he says a man in a car, they'd just passed started shooting at them.

"We went under the overpass just before Exit 15 and we just heard like popping. And it sounded to me like a tire was coming apart,” Sean said.

Seconds later, shots shattering his car windows. One bullet hit his son, Justin, in the back. Another tore through his daughter Paige’s aorta, lungs, liver and diaphragm.

• Also read: 'We're just doing the best we can:' Father provides update after family shot on I-295

"It was a matter of seconds and she had already, she slumped over up against me on the driver's side and was out,” Sean said.

As soon as he could no longer hear gunfire, Sean pulled over and he and his son both called 911.

His son got through to a dispatcher, as Sean tried stop his daughter's bleeding.

"It was terrible. Worst day of my life. Both of your kids are in trouble. And you can only help one at a time. And how do you reconcile that, you know,” Sean said.

Paige's condition was critical. Sean said they had no idea if she would survive.

"When we first got there, it looked pretty grim. You could tell that they were trying to be optimistic. But you could tell that it wasn't their true thoughts,” Sean said.

Paige and Justin both went in for surgeries at Maine Medical Center to remove bullet fragments and repair the damage.

In Paige’s case, doctors saved her life.

• Also read: Timeline: Bowdoin man accused of killing parents, parents' friends in shooting spree

"Sure enough, after her surgery and a couple days of intensive care, she was just coming back full throttle and being amazing,” Sean said.

A year later, Justin and Paige have nearly fully recovered.

"They are recovering amazingly well, physically, mentally, more than we could hope,” Sean said.

Justin and Paige decided not to talk with CBS13 because they want to put the shooting behind them.

"They're both as close to 100% as we can expect, I think. They're both back to work and doing everything they can to just live their lives as normally as possible,” Sean said.

Sean says seeing Joseph Eaton at his arraignment in West Bath was hard to stomach.

Eaton faces 27 charges in two counties, including four counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

As a felon who had just gotten out of prison in Maine and moved in with his parents' best friends, Eaton was prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.

What Sean can't understand is why he was allowed to go to a home where he had access to firearms.

"I don't understand the process of him being released into a home that had access to firearms. I know that's not how it's supposed to be. And I don't know how it happened. If it had been intervened before that happened, things may have been different,” Sean said.

• Also read: Bowdoin murder suspect had been released from prison four days before shootings

There is no law in Maine that prohibits a felon who is not allowed to possess or buy a firearm from moving into a home with guns.

However, there are renewed efforts to tighten state laws that are meant to keep guns out of the hands of those most likely to use them for harm.

Eaton has pleaded not guilty to the four murders and the trial in that case is expected to be sometime next year.

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Gta gas prices to jump 14 cents a litre, doug french, father of kristen, dead at 92.

Kristen French was 15 when she was murdered in 1992 by Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka

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The father of slain teenager Kristen French died Sunday at the St. Catharines Hospital at the age of 92.

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Doug French, father of Kristen, dead at 92 Back to video

Doug French leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Donna, and five children – Pam, Brad, Dwayne, Brian and Darren.

There will be a visitation on Thursday at George Darte Funeral Home on Carlton St., in St. Catharines, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8p.m., as well as on Friday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The funeral is planned for 2 p.m. on Friday at St. Alfred’s Church.

Memorial donations can be made to the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre Niagara.

Kristen was 15 years old when she was murdered in 1992 after being abducted while walking home from school by Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka.

The couple held her for three days, torturing and sexually assaulting her before killing her. The teen’s body was found in a ditch along No. 1 Sideroad in north Burlington.

She was the third Canadian murder victim of Bernardo and Homolka after 15-year-old Tammy Homolka, Karla’s younger sister, in 1990 and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in 1991.

In 1995, Bernardo and Homolka went on trial for the deaths of French and Mahaffy.

Homolka took a plea bargain and was released from prison in 2005.

Bernado was convicted of several offences – including two first-degree murders, two aggravated sexual assaults – and sentenced to life in prison without parole for at least twenty-five years.

He was also convicted of manslaughter in the death of Tammy Homolka and was designated a dangerous offender, making him unlikely to ever be released.

He has repeatedly been denied parole.

More recently, Bernardo was controversially transferred from a maximum security prison to a medium security jail.

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Wellington teen dies from brain bleeding, saves her father's life through kidney transplant.

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Dhima Martin now asks why. Why did this happen to her daughter?

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"I was praying for a miracle in the hospital. Her life was a miracle. I love her. And I miss her every day, every moment," Martin told WPBF 25 News.

Her 13-year-old daughter, Symaria Glenn, was healthy. She was vibrant.

But on January 31, her life changed.

" She complained of a headache. Unbeknownst to me, how severe it was, her brain was bleeding. So, she was taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to Joe DiMaggio's Children Hospital," Martin said.

Her daughter was in the hospital for about a week before she died.

"I still believed in God to do the impossible, save her," she said.

Your health: Here’s what you need to know

Her family had made the decision to donate her organs and ended up saving five people's lives.

One of them was actually the life of the teen's father. He had never told his children he was on dialysis. But he was in dire need of a kidney transplant.

And it turned out that Glenn's kidney was a match to her father's.

"She would have wanted that. She would have wanted to save her father," Martin said.

The tragedy also occurred just a couple of days before Martin was about to get married.

"Went from a time to celebrate love, to watching my daughter lay there unresponsive and unconscious and then losing her," she said.

And now, she wears beautiful, handmade bracelets that her daughter made for her as a wedding gift.

"She wanted to be an actress, so would memorize monologues, singing songs, she was a big Taylor Swift fan," Martin said.

Her daughter had big dreams-- she was a 7th grader at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.

"I called her my lovebug. So 'lovebug, I love you,'" Martin said. "She’s perfect, she’s amazing, she’s beautiful, and it starts on the inside."

April is Donate Life Month, and officials say, "Every 8 minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list, emphasizing the urgency of the situation."

Martin and her loved ones wanted to share the heroic actions and the beautiful life of their daughter.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here .

Former US Army staffer pleads guilty to defrauding Gold Star families

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Stabbed Sydney Assyrian bishop says recovering quickly, forgives attacker

An Assyrian bishop who was stabbed during a service at his Sydney church said on Thursday he was recovering quickly and that he had forgiven his attacker.