"Seacorp daughter"

[read this post to see what the memory sharing is all about]

I met Leah the first day she started at SEA CORP. She and I shared an office with another new employee. We quickly became friends and had many discussions on everything under the sun. Leah was the same age as my daughter and our friendship took on the aspect of a Father and Daughter. At some point she started referring to me as her East Coast Father. As time passed, my company “Daughters” increased to five. They began calling me their SEA CORP Dad and included me in almost everything they did. A few years ago Leah had my daughter take one of my company jackets and she had “Dad” embroidered underneath the “SEA CORP” logo. She called me and said the ladies were having lunch together and I should come over. When I got there, they presented me with my “new” jacket and I was at a loss for words. That was how I got my “SEA CORP Dad” jacket. Leah was like that, thinking of how to make other people happy. She did that for everyone she knew.

We had many talks/ discussions on various subjects over time and it got to the point where she had a chair designated for me and put a sign above it that said "Rudy’s Chair". That sign followed her around when she moved offices and I always got a smile when I would go to her office and see the designated chair.  We celebrated birthdays by going out to lunch and occasionally we just went out to break up the day. When Leah and Bryan set their wedding date, she couldn’t wait to tell me it was on my birthday. Our lunches continued after her diagnosis and became more frequent.  Leah was always upbeat when we met and she was very open with what was going on and the treatment she was receiving. Occasionally we would set a lunch date and she would call or text saying she really didn’t feel like going out so we could have lunch at her home.  She would ask me what I wanted and I would tell her the same as she was having. So I would have my Vegan lunch. 

Leah was a kind, caring and gracious person.  I am thankful that I could spend time with her as a friend (Daughter) and will always remember her and will miss her every day. 

-SEA CORP Dad