Newly dating Al's daughter Michele, I was eager to make a good impression when meeting her dad. Shortly after shaking Al's hand for the first time, he took me golfing at a high end golf course. Not a golfer, I stood at the first tee, driver in hand, looking at a line of condos down the left side of the fairway and the road that leads to the golf course along the right side. With my first swing of the day, I made great contact with the ball, and It rose quickly but made a sudden turn to the left, striking the sliding glass door of a condo in the distance. The ball then rattled violently off the glass railing and then again off the glass door, somehow leaving both intact. Al passed me a second ball and I nervously set it on the tee, With my second swing, I again made good contact and the ball quickly climbed into the air. Over correcting because of my first misplaced drive, the ball took a sudden turn to the right making a precision landing in the center of the road that led to the golf course. With cars approaching, the ball high bounced over a car and narrowly missed a second.
Al, being the gentleman that he was, handed me a third ball, told me that I had a great swing and suggested taking a drop near the green. Relieved, I walked ball in hand towards the first hole.
He continued to take me golfing for years after and continued telling me that I had a great swing as I shanked balls left and right.
I'll miss my visits with him in Utah and the many family memories that were made. Al was a good man, a good father and an excellent grandfather. He always made you feel important and heard and he was always fun to be around. I'll miss him.
