Two Fathers In Their 90's Speak Candidly About Success, Loss And Parenting In Honor Of Father's Day

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- TEQUESTA, FL, JUNE 6, 2012: If you want to learn about parenting and what it means to be a father, just sit down with two dads in their 90s.  Vinnie Giannone, 91-year-old Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living resident, lost his daughter at age 25 in a few short months to bone cancer.  He knows the pain of losing a child and the joys of watching a son follow his footsteps in the military.  Jerry Arnowitt, 90-year-old Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living resident, raised three kids.  He will never forget ages 15-23, which he says are the most challenging.  Tequesta Terrace will honor all of its fathers at a fun-filled event, including a belly dancer on Father’s Day, June 17, at 3:30 p.m.

“I always said, these kids were lucky to have a father who was a lawyer, they needed it,” said Arnowitt, with a chuckle.  “But when you’re 90, the kids think you don’t know anything anymore.  They made me quit driving so now they take me places.  I remember taking them everywhere.”

Arnowitt says the most rewarding part of fatherhood is seeing his children with their own
families.  He tries to get his grandchildren off on the right foot too by matching whatever money they save in a bank account he opened for them.  Even though he served in World War II and spent nearly 40 years practicing law, to him and his wife who passed away after nearly 60 years of marriage, having kids is the most important thing he ever did.

“I would tell new parents, keep your kids under control but don’t try to keep them under a glass lid,” said Arnowitt.  “Let your kids blow their own horns, no one will blow it for them.”

Vinnie Giannone is a retired barber, World War II veteran and he raised two kids.  He always told his kids to go to school, work hard, abide by the rules and keep busy because there’s no free lunch.  They listened and made him proud.  Giannone will never forget the painful loss he experienced when his daughter died at 25-years-old, three months after she was diagnosed with bone cancer.

“That’s a hardship.  It wasn’t easy and all of a sudden she got sick and in three months, she was gone,” said Giannone.  “She went to the hospital and never came home.  I would tell other parents going through something like this that they need to pull together to support each other, work hard to keep each other going and remember God is watching over them.”

Both of Giannone’s children are a continual source of pride.  He is especially honored
that the company where his daughter worked at the time of her death continues to fund
a scholarship at Hofstra University, in her name, Rosalie Gionnane.  It is for a physically challenged student pursuing a career working with physically challenged individuals.

“When my son came back from Vietnam, it was a big relief that he got home safe and sound,” said Gionnane.  “When the scholarship was started for my daughter, that was quite an honor as well.”

Both men live at Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living.  The community enjoys having inspiring men and women on campus.

“Our residents have such rich, interesting backgrounds,” said Lisa Gallagher, executive director of Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living.  “We learn so much from them.  They have been through many experiences which have shaped them into the people they are today.  I want to wish all of our fathers, a very happy Father’s Day!”

Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living will honor its fathers on Father’s Day with a fun-filled event that includes a belly dancer.  If you’d like to cover the event on June 17 at 3:30 p.m. or if you would like to interview one of the fathers, please contact Amy Jones at 214-890-7912 ext. 30 or ajones@fortepr.com

ABOUT TEQUESTA TERRACE ASSISTED LIVING
Tequesta Terrace is the premier assisted living community located in Tequesta, Florida (near Jupiter in northern Palm Beach County). It is conveniently situated near the water, shopping, restaurants, and other services. Not only does Tequesta offer 24-hour nurse staffing, but it also is within minutes of additional physician offices and medical care – including Jupiter Medical Center, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, and Martin Memorial Hospital. For more information, please see Tequesta Terrace’s web page located at www.terracecommunities.net