A Father's Day Blog for Papa Leo...

Hilma and Leo, Summer 2008 (Photo by Greg Fischer)


Papa Leo has been "Papa" Leo, since I first met him. That was a long time ago, when Meagan was just a baby. Leo is Greg's step-father because he married Hilma 19 years ago this summer. But he's Papa Leo because of the way he just naturally fell into the title role.

This is what the family looked like the day of their wedding:



Front, l-r: Dominic, Ali, Dawn (holding Brad) Hilma, Deb, Andrea.
Back, l-r: Tara, Kim, Meagan, Kate, Greg, Leo, Erin, Lew.
(Original photo taken Summer 1990. Blurry reproduction made by Kate's LRDC June 21, 2009.)

Since this picture was taken, the "step" family has grown by a few husbands and three great-grandchildren. And Leo has a daughter of his own, Cindy, who has two children, but they're not in this photo.

Also at the wedding, but not pictured is a large collection of brothers, sisters, in-laws and nieces and nephews from both sides of this "blended" family. If I could, I would interview each of them, and I'm sure this post would be a wonderful testimonial to the kind of person Papa Leo is!

It's impossible not to love this kind, generous man who is always ready to go along with whatever makes other people happy. Through the years we've all received beautiful gifts that Papa has made with his awesome carpentry skills. But the true gift he's given us is the love he shares with this family.

Happy Father's Day, Papa Leo! We love you, and wish you a wonderful Father's Day, because you are a wonderful father!