An appreciation for my dad
halo
Posts: 5,616
Hello to all my fellow Polk Forum members.
I am sad to report that my father is now in a hospice facility. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a little over a year ago. Despite having a defibrillator installed and going through some PT specifically for his condition he had a bout with pneumonia/bronchitis that he simply cannot overcome. Other organs have begun to fail so he doesn’t have much time remaining.
I am grateful that my wife and I were able to make it to Chicago in time to talk with him, hold his hands, and to have those important moments to say what we need/want to say. He is still lucid, as of last night, but he’s asked for pain medication and his deteriorating condition will lessen his awareness as time goes on.
I have talked to a few forum members about this through PM’s but I wanted to share the news with the rest of my Polk family. This is where he wants to be and our main goal going forward is to keep him as comfortable as possible.
Some of you may remember that the wood I used for the base of my Bottlehead phono preamp came from the very last piece of mahogany that my father received from his uncle while he was living in Monrovia, Liberia.
My father is the one who instilled a love of stereo/reproduced music in me, among many, many, other things. I will forever cherish him and I am grateful to have had such an amazing father. He provided me with everything I needed to succeed in life. I love you dad!
Here is a picture of the mahogany base on the Bottlehead:
Thanks for listening/reading
I am sad to report that my father is now in a hospice facility. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a little over a year ago. Despite having a defibrillator installed and going through some PT specifically for his condition he had a bout with pneumonia/bronchitis that he simply cannot overcome. Other organs have begun to fail so he doesn’t have much time remaining.
I am grateful that my wife and I were able to make it to Chicago in time to talk with him, hold his hands, and to have those important moments to say what we need/want to say. He is still lucid, as of last night, but he’s asked for pain medication and his deteriorating condition will lessen his awareness as time goes on.
I have talked to a few forum members about this through PM’s but I wanted to share the news with the rest of my Polk family. This is where he wants to be and our main goal going forward is to keep him as comfortable as possible.
Some of you may remember that the wood I used for the base of my Bottlehead phono preamp came from the very last piece of mahogany that my father received from his uncle while he was living in Monrovia, Liberia.
My father is the one who instilled a love of stereo/reproduced music in me, among many, many, other things. I will forever cherish him and I am grateful to have had such an amazing father. He provided me with everything I needed to succeed in life. I love you dad!
Here is a picture of the mahogany base on the Bottlehead:
Thanks for listening/reading
Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
Comments
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Sorry to hear this. Best wishes for your father and your family.
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So sorry to hear Victor. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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Prayers for your father and the family Vic.
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Very sorry to hear about this, halo. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Unfortunately I had to deal with a similar thing about 2 years ago when my mother went into hospice. While it was of course extremely difficult, it was also an amazing time to be able to spend every one of her last few days with her and to share so much love. Take a deep breath and enjoy the time that you have left together... hold your father's hand and talk to him...talk and talk and talk...and let him know everything you are feeling and how much he means to you...even while he is sleeping he will hear you. My mother lost consciousness in her last 2 days (she was in hospice for a week) but she still heard everything I told her. Best wishes for you and your loved ones.
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Very touching post & heart felt. Prayers for your dad & family!Denon AVR X4200W
Parasound A23 amplifier
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Saec 308sx tonearm w/
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MIT Avt3 Speaker c's
Audio Quest Big Sur ic's
Polk SDA 1C's modded
Polk LSim 707
Polk LSiM706c
Polk RTiA 3's
Polk 80F/X-RT
Polk DSW PRO 440wi sub
Infinity bu2 sub
"The early Klingon gets the Gagh" -
Nicely said, Vic. Prayers sentAC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
Pre Cary SLP-05
Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Rythmik F12 -
I'm very sorry to hear this Victor, sending comforting thoughts to your family.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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God be with you, your father and your entire family though this time and always. Be mindful of the little things, as within them are sometimes the greatest joys. Just like that piece of mahogany, something so small, yet so meaningful...
May this time bring peace and love to all.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Praying for peace and comfort. I can certainly relate as my dad is having some serious health issues as well...tough decisions to make."This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
You are a great son. Prayers for your family.
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It's never easy Victor to watch someone as special as a father or mother go through the last stages of life. You do have that Bottlehead and that with the chills and goosebumps that will come the many times listening to music remembering the love of music your father instilled with you. I myself still have the memories and smells of family members who have passed while listening to songs we both sat and grooved to together.
May the higher power take and lead him to a better place and let you know how wonderful of a son you where for helping him through.
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I am glad you are able to be there for him at this time. I live every day with regret for not going to see my mother “just one more time...”.
Take care, and Godspeed.“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn -
I feel humble and honored that you chose to share this. I offer my good thoughts and prayers for you and your Dad. I miss mine a lot, and wish I had the chance you have to be with yours.So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?
http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/ -
Prayers to you and yours, brother.
Troy -
Praying for your family.Pio Elete Pro 520
Panamax 5400-EX
Sunfire TGP 5
Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
PS Audio GCPH phono pre
Sunfire CG 200 X 5
Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
OPPO BDP-83 SE
SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
Ctr CS1000p
Sur - FX1000 x 4
SUB - SVS PB2-Plus
Workkout room:
Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
Onkyo TX-DS898
GFA 555
Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
Ft - SDA 1C
Not being used:
RTi 38's -4
RT55i's - 2
RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
LSI 15's
CSi40
PSW 404 -
Thanks for sharing this, Victor. Sorry to hear about your dads condition, but, am thankful you were able to get there to spend some time with him. Thoughts and prayers.
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Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Very much appreciated Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
Sorry to read this. Glad to see you've been able to find solace in seeing and talking with him. Sounds like a wonderful guy. That Bottlehead is a beautiful piece and I'm sure will remind you of great memories in the years to com. Best wishes for your dad, family and you.➀Speakers: Polk1.2tl's (Uber Mods) ➁Pre/Amp/DAC: PS Audio BHK Signature & 250, DirectStream ➂Cables/IC's: MIT S1Bi-Wire/S1 Balanced +Avel Lindberg 1000VA "Dreadnought" ➃Power Conditioner: PS Audio P15 Power Plant ➄Power Cords: Core Power Technologies Gold, DH Labs Power Plus DIY w/Neotech NC-P301 & P311ends ➅Streaming: Roon ROCK on wifi'd NUC, TP-Link WAP, & Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark, Emperor Double Crown Clock, Black Modernize LPS, PS Audio AirLens⟿Ω☯☥☮⟿🔊♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬♩♪♫♬
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So sorry to hear this Victor. Cherish and make the most of every minute you have to spend with your dad. Prayers sent my friend!
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So sorry to hear the news.Home Theater
Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable
2 Channel
Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+
Stuff for the Head
JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365
Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin
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Sorry to hear. I lost my dad in April. Miss him every day...
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So sorry, prayers for your Dad and family.
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So sorry to hear of your fathers condition. Sounds like he is a remarkable man that has been a great influence on your life.
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So sorry to hear. I pray his journey will be peaceful.Home Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
Victor, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Sounds like you're making the best of it and getting some quality time in with him.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Ibid.
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Saying good bye is tough. Glad you were able to do so while he could still appreciate it. Peace to all.Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub. -
Very sorry to hear about your Dad. Just remember the good times when the time comes.Yamaha RX-A2070, Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amp, Benchmark Dac1, Bluesound NODE 2i, Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport, Parasound Zphono USB Phono Preamp, Fluance RT85, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Polk L600's, L400, L900's, RC80i's, SVS 3000 Micro, Audioquest Interconnects and Digital Cables, Nordost Silver Shadow Digital Cable, Cullen Gold and Crossover Series Power Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 12AWG OCC Speaker Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha Analog Interconnect Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 11 OCC Custom Power Cable, Signal Power Cable, Furman PL-8C 15 Power Conditioner, Sony 65" 900F, Sony UBP-X700, Fios, Apple TV 4K, Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables.
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Sorry to hear this Victor! I miss talking to my Dad more then anything as I know you will and have all ready found! but that bottle head looks so special it makes me so happy and sad all at the same time... I makes me smile big time at what you made it into!
Kudo's to you my Friend as now you can always listen to music thru this headphone amp and know you made you father proud! This is so special.2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD -
A sincere thank you to all of you for your support.
My father passed away this morning just after 7 am.
He was not alone as my sister, nephew, and cousin were there. He wasn’t in any pain. He simply stopped breathing while he slept. This is what he wanted. We should all be so fortunate. He is at peace. I will miss him.Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
