Paul Whitney died Nov 10^th a short 7 months ago, and his son, Andy, who took over the store a few years ago from his dad, is still very affected by it and dedicated to his father’s memory.

 

 

 So, fittingly, he arranged a memorial for his dad on Fathers day and revealed the stone memorial he had made during the winter.

 

 

The gathering in front of the store was preceded by a short speech by son and current store proprietor, Andy

 

“My sister and I want to thank you for taking this time out of your day for our dad. Especially being that it is father’s day.

 

My Dad loved Kismet and it is only fitting that he has a great view of it (the memorial stone faces the marina and the Bay)

But more importantly he loved the people of Kismet

Seeing all the wonderful faces here is a testament to that.

He is greatly missed but his spirit is all around and the kind words you all share keep his memory vivid in all of us

 I thank you again and Happy Fathers day to all the fathers out there”.

 

It was touching to see the family together:

Andy’s fiancée, Debbie, his son Benny and her daughter, Erica

Sister Lori and husband Jim, their children Nick and Whitney

Sister Linda and husband Gary, their children Olivia and Justin

Paul’s sister in law Lynn and her children Frankie and Tami.

 

And indeed his Kismet family; from Paul’s oldest friends, Joyce and Larry Cole of the INN, to Ashley and Mugsy, and his little son  Leyden,  (week old sister Riley at home) and the Sam Woods family.

Also among the crowd were (and are) his longtime customers; Myrna, Roz, Mike & Dusty, Mike & Marge, among them,  some with stories to tell attesting to the bond of trust and friendship he established with all of us. Since it was father’s day, with many celebrating off island, and a beautiful beach day, the crowd was intimate but choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Laurie read the following poem:

  “I thought of you today, but that is nothing…

 I thought about you yesterday

And days before that, too

 I think of you in silence,

 I often speak your name

Now all I have is memories, and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake from which I’ll never part

 God has you in his keeping

 But I have you in my heart”

 

Paul would have enjoyed the tribute; short, sentimental but not too mushy, with smiles instead of tears.

 

 

For more about Paul’s life in pictures and stories from his friends and customers see:

http://theaterscene.com/PaulWhtney.html