2014

My dad, Ret. USN CDR Jack Lewis, age 95, in the home he'd built for us in 1955.. He suffered from Lewy Body Dementia, and every time I flew from Santa Rosa to San Diego to visit him, I thought it'd be the last. He passed away at age 97 on December 27, 2017. I'd just seen him on the 11th. He'd been nonverbal, not eating, sleeping a lot. I needed him to know he could let go. That night, I got up from this same table, put my hand on his shoulder and said, "Commander Lewis, your ship is in my capable hands. I am ready for you to have that R&R." He looked at me and said, as clear as if he were a young man again, "Thank you." I knew I'd never see him again.