Happy Father’s Day From Valerie Policastro

In celebration of Father's Day on Sunday June 17, we asked Patch readers to write a letter to their father and let us deliver it. This is Valerie Policastro's letter to her dad:

Thomas Jeremiah Dinan was my hero for all these years since he passed away. I was 5, and back then, kids weren’t part of the reality, grieving and healing process, but I have treasured the good memories for all these years: “helping” to keep Pet, our cabin cruiser, in shape for our stay overs on the Great South Bay and fishing excursions; his cologne (Old Spice, of course, when there were only English Leather and Aqua Velva alternatives) and wing-tipped shoes; his stroking my hair as I sat on his knee and introducing me to frog’s legs when I still had a child’s open mind. I was lucky to have him for as long as I did, and to later find friends whose fathers could substitute in a crisis. Love you, Dad. I know you can hear me. Come visit some time.

—Valerie Policastro

See all Father's Day letters here.

Main Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Africa Studio