Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: danny_galaga on January 10, 2012, 03:28:49 am
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My Dad. 18/11/1937- 27/12/2011
My Dad was the smartest man I know (and I know a physicist). He was a great teacher. When I was around ten or so, my interest in science and technology was pretty clear. Dad recalled an experiment he was shown as a boy, and decided we should do it together. Together we built an electric motor from scratch- A broken speaker supplied the magnets (the ring magnet was snapped in two to create two poles) and from memory may have supplied the wire for the windings. An old coat hanger became the armature. Two nails became the commutator although I can't recall what they were nailed into exactly. Folded up strips of aluminium foil were used for brushes. Add a 6 volt torch battery and holy crap, it actually worked! Pretty shaky of course, and sparks flying everywhere. But what a great experiment for a kid to be involved in. I don't think Dad even used a soldering iron on it. The next experiment was going to be a resistive microphone, which Dad recalled making from little balls of graphite made from a pencil lead, which were then sandwiched loosely between two metal plates. We never did get around to it.
Years later, I thought I'd try and recreate our motor experiment. But you know, even with having done a trade in auto electrics, where the most interesting part for me was when we went to trade school and learnt theory, I couldn't recreate it. This was crazy! I thought I had a much better understanding than Dad of the theory. I was using better materials, I knew about applying the right hand rule for a magnetic field, back EMF, even a (very) vague understanding of quantum mechanics. Dad may have been a great teacher, and absorbed everything he read and stored it away but alas, I wasn't the greatest student!
Dad was the smartest man I know, but he was also full of life. I saw him a day before he passed and he was practically skipping. Sadly, his heart wasn't as youthful as his mind. I know though that Dad wouldn't want us to be moping around and while I feel sad writing this brief eulogy, I am so glad he had such an interesting life, right to the end. All I can do is try and be half as productive as him, and remain happy knowing he would be happy too. We'll miss you.
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Sorry for your loss, touching story and what a great role model for you.
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:stupid That's a great memory Dan.
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I appreciate the share. I imagine you're a better student then you give yourself credit for. Afterall, he wasn't teaching you about motors, he was teaching you about being a good son and a good dad.
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Sorry for your loss... sounds like you have some great memories to hold on to.
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I appreciate the share. I imagine you're a better student then you give yourself credit for. Afterall, he wasn't teaching you about motors, he was teaching youabout being a good son and a good dad and how to build a great cocktail cab with a rotating monitor.
FTFY.
Papa Galaga sounds like he was a heck of a guy. The Cheffo family is sorry for your loss.
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I am sorry to hear about your loss Danny. That was a lovely tribute.
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I hope my sons will feel the same about me when the time comes. Thanks for sharing.
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1) Sorry for your loss!
2) Great picture, I especially like the happy expression of the person taking the picture in the mirror!
3) Treasure your time. I had a great childhood with my Dad and can't duplicate that with my son due to a divorce.
:cheers:
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sorry for your lost Danny. RIP Dad.
I have lost a good friend on Christmas Day. It was all over the news here in North Jersey.
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/12/three_brothers_charged_in_vici.html (http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/12/three_brothers_charged_in_vici.html)
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Sounds like the world lost one of the good ones. Luckily it seems his apples didn't fall too far from the tree. Hope you're doin' alright.
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My condolences. Your dad sounds like the type of father most guys want to be, an inspiration to their children, a teacher, a role model, and a good friend.
He sounds like a real great guy to know, celebrate his life rather mourning his death, that's what men want when they pass along.
All the best to you and your family in this tough time. I'll be sure to pour out a little liquor for him...
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The world would be a better place with more men like that in it.
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Sorry for your loss. Hang on to the good times you had until you see your dad again.
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:'( i fell your pain, i lost my dad 3 years ago and my little broter 1 year ago, they where both great guys, all i can say you'll learn to live without your dad, but im sure everyday somenthing will remind you of him
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Thanks guys. He led a pretty eventful life. The quote my sister used for her eulogy was "there's no such thing as being bored". He had a good innings.
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My dad passed away on the 24th of January 2011 of lung cancer. He also helped me build an electric motor and was smarter than me.