Inspiring stories about love and parenting from UO dads

Each June we celebrate the fathers and father figures who have touched our lives. Their presence and their absence make an impact on the paths that we have taken and will end up taking. There are so many who have taken the time to be present – a big brother who stepped up, a protective uncle who was always there, or a patient grandfather who had words of wisdom. No matter the dad, we celebrate their love and legacies.

Although there are countless UO dad’s out there, we are excited to share these quotes on parenthood, love, and everything that comes from raising children.

Fawzi Alkadi, BS ’96 (marketing), on what it takes to be a dad

"Kids will make mistakes. I sure had my share. While at school, I thought my dad was just checking on me from a distance. He was a busy guy and thousands of miles away. I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal. He was there whenever “I” needed him. When my son went away to study, I honestly couldn’t sleep well for years. I worried about him every day. I would think about what he might be doing every night before I went to bed. When I reached out to my dad about this, he had teary eyes telling me about what he went through when I was gone. He never showed it. I never felt it either. Now I know. He was my ever-present rock. Forever grateful."

Callan Coleman, BA ’90 (psychology), MA ’92 (counseling), on being humble

"I find that saying that I am sorry is a critical part of my parenting. I hope that if my daughter sees a humble dad who will admit when he is wrong, she will engage in her life everyone around her in a healthy way. I want to send out a young woman into the world who will be filled with grace and healing from the same that I give to her."

Nate Jackson, BA ’05 (electronic media production), MA ’22 (curriculum & teaching), on kids growing up

"I have a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. Both with big personalities, and both make me proud when they call me ‘daddy’. As they get older, I am embracing each hug, kiss, story time, pillow fight, and ‘I love you’. As the years pass, I hope to march with them through their journey of life and be there to advise them, support them, and watch them grow into individuals who leave a lasting impact on their own families."

Jim Lobdell, BS ’84 (accounting), on the adventure of fatherhood

"Being a parent is a journey no one is fully prepared for but is an adventure of a lifetime. One that you not only share with your children but shapes you as an individual and creates a mirror into the future. When I look at my two children, I see all the best qualities of their mother, a few of their fathers' faults, best friends and think to myself what a wonderful adventure."

Kāne Ng-Osorio, BS ’98 (psychology), on spending time with kids

"No matter how busy my work gets I purposely make time to be with my kids. My daughter competed in track and field at school for the first time this school year and I enjoyed going to the meets to cheer her on. After her meets we get one of her favorite bubble tea drinks. My son has gotten into basketball, and I coach his teams. Both of us are passionate about the sport so we both are getting joy out of this. Coaching is also very rewarding as I watch my son and teammates develop and get better each week."

Hanif Panni, BA ’05 (design and applied arts), on being an example

"Creating a career in design and music is an alternative path, and oftentimes not the easiest of endeavors, but it warms my heart knowing my boys are seeing dad navigate this professional world with creativity, love, and diligent individuality. We are each other's greatest fans, and I can’t wait to see how their innovative ideas and actions change the world… I also can’t wait till they regularly clean their room."

Erik Parrish, BS ’03 (economics, accounting), MACC ’04 (accounting), on being a proud father

"Being a father, it took me several years to shift my focus from habits and intentions from making myself successful to setting a path for my kids to be successful. As a proud father, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing them form habits and being intentional in their actions, resulting in their own success."

Joe Volpi, BS ’10 (human physiology), on fatherhood

"Fatherhood means being there for my son and my family. I work in a profession that demands a lot of my time and I see many colleagues lament time spent away from their families. At the end of the day my son will always remember what we did together and not the time spent apart. I hope he always knows that I will be there for him no matter what."

Adolf Zeman, BS ’00 (political science), on connecting with his kids

"Life is busy. As a working parent, there is school and activities for kids, so each moment spent with my family is valued time. Sometimes the only time spent together is at the end of the day for dinner – but we make it count. I love traveling with my kids and find those adventures to be so worthwhile for connection. One of my favorite ways we spend time together is heading up to our small lake cabin. It provides us a chance to talk with each other, disconnect from the rest of my responsibilities, and to really enjoy the outdoors together. Whether it’s fishing off the dock, s'mores by the campfire, or exploring the woods, I enjoy the time spent with my children and enjoy sharing a connection with them to the outdoors."