Reynold Hamadock

My dad was a 95yo WWII Air Force veteran who loved his family more than anything. He was the oldest of 5 children, and outlived all but 1 of them. He was a proud father of 2, grandfather of 3, and great-grandfather of 2. He was known as “Pap” to everyone- even my children’s friends called him that. He lived to make his family happy and did everything he could to make their dreams come true. He was hard worker and generous to a fault. There were no charities or causes he did not feel obligated to donate to, no matter how little he could afford, especially to those connected with children and veterans. He loved playing cards, going out to eat, and decorating for Christmas usually in November. He was an avid Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins fan. He went to his 1st Pens game at the age of 93! He was slightly embarrassed when he saw his name on the big screen during the Pens “Salute to Military Heroes”. He received many handshakes and thank-you’s that night and he was truly touched. One of his most prized possessions was his WWII Veterans ballcap which he wore every single day whether going out or just sitting on his porch. He never missed a baseball game, soccer match, or band competition that his grandchildren participated in from the age of 6 through high school. Their friends, coaches, and teammates always looked for “Pap” and he was often the one treating them all to ice cream after the games!
At the time of his death, we had no idea that he was an organ donor until we received the call from CORE. He kept all of his donations to any organization private and usually, anonymous. He was not one looking to be in the spotlight for any reason. He gave from the heart unselfishly!
My dad instilled in me the value of family and friends and the importance of sharing; whether it is your time, your talents, or your money.
I wish his recipients would have known that even at his advanced age, he was still giving to others. I hope to honor his memory in the same fashion. Myself and my children are all organ donors.

When you have a loving family and friends, you have it all