My dad never got to enjoy retirement. The day he submitted his retirement papers, he shut down. Doctors initially thought the issues were psychiatric because of the sudden onset. After over 15 months of seeing doctor after doctor, however, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
During those 15+ months (which included the COVID pandemic), my dad lived alone. He tried to do normal day-to-day activities, but couldn't do the most basic of tasks. He was a man who loved driving and thought the ideal vacation was seeing how many miles he could drive without stopping. But after his onset, he constantly got lost on roads that he previously knew like the back of his hand.
After his diagnosis, my dad went to a facility that wasn't equipped to handle him. We quickly found a facility specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care that was a much better fit for him. For over four and a half years, I watched my dad progress along side others in his facility. I would see residents move in looking normal, but slightly confused, like my dad at first. I would then notice their decline, with residents I came to know well no longer being around and new residents moving in and going through the same cycle. It was heart wrenching.
Over 6 years after his onset, my dad passed away on December 14, 2025. I'm creating this tribute page in his memory to help with the fight against this terrible disease. Your donation will help support the critical work of the Alzheimer's Association: providing care and support for families, advancing promising research and offering a lifeline through their free 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900). Every dollar raised helps ensure that no one faces Alzheimer's alone.
Thank you for considering a donation to this cause.
From all of us at Angius and Terry.