A Tribute to My Father

My father, Jerome Jay Hochberg passed away on June 14, 2009. He was 92 years old, had an amazing life and is sorely missed by my family and me. Dad was one of those “tough” guys who lived through the depression years. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College, ’38, in the days of quotas. War and the Navy came shortly after. He rose to the rank of Lt. Commander and sailed aboard the USS Wasp. He went down with the ship when it was torpedoed by the Japanese in the Pacific. He liked to recount that “smoking saved my life”, as he was in the mess with his buddies and left to get the smokes he had forgotten in his cabin just before the ship was hit (those remaining in the mess did not survive). He served for six years. Dad married his first wife during the war and my sister Ginny was born in 1945. Fortunately for me, the marriage did not last. He met my mother, Peggy Plaut, in 1947 and they were married the next year. I was born five years later, and my sister Claire, two years after that.

Dad had a natural musical talent, teaching himself piano, violin and clarinet. After the war, Dad tried making it as a lyricist and songwriter in New York, had a couple of tunes on the local top 40, did some walk-on numbers for various entertainers and had a prolific catalogue of lyrics to his credit, but gave it up after a couple of years, finding the music business a bit tough for his taste. He went into jewelry sales and moved to Chicago with my mother just before I was born. He spent many years on the road as a salesman until he accepted a marketing job with the Welby Clock Company where he eventually rose to the presidency. He also served two terms as president of the Chicago Jewelers Association. Dad often travelled to Europe and Asia for business, taking Mom with him when possible. My parents had an exciting life of travel. He retired in 1985 and didn’t look back.

Dad was always busy with something in his retirement years. Winter stays in Florida, an avid golfer, and getting a great deal of pleasure from his three grandchildren. Our weekly lox and bagel brunches were a highlight. He also met his buddies from the Romeo Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out) weekly. He received one of the first MacIntosh computers as a retirement gift and loved learning how to use it with my daughter, Elizabeth, when she was little. He was in regular email and Skype contact with his family and friends right up until the very end. He never stopped learning and liked to stay contemporary with the world and its goings-on.

What I most admire Dad for was his always positive attitude. He never complained, even during my mother’s long illness, decline and death earlier this year, which I know took a heavy toll on him. He always looked at the bright side. He was true to his principles, loved Mom and his family foremost, and was not materialistic in any way. He was the kind of guy I think the world saw more of “back in the day”. I hope that I can live up to his legacy and standards as I continue my journey.

• • • • •

In My Father’s Memory

As the ship sails far from our weakened sight

and travels to places deep and unknown

its captain turns to wave goodbye

his form still, brightly through the mist.

Devoted to the cause, always

with his sailors close at hand

to plan and steer the right course

through waters soft and perilous.

You are a man of distinction

a rare and vanishing breed