Growing up everyone knew not to mess with my house. They knew I had a insanely strict Grandfather that was very imposing to all of whom who dare show their face on the front steps. Of course this didn’t stop the Varsity basketball team’s cheerleaders every year from teepee’ing my house. Even the most old school guy couldn’t help but laugh at the American traditions that help make the country run. Papi never stopped evolving despite his long history living in a foreign country. This man was remarkable in every sense of the word.
-CEO of Rise Celestial Studios, Ralph Celestin shares a fond memory of his beloved Grandfather.
Eulogy: By Gerard Balan Jr
For whatever reason, I was always called junior and everyone else called my father, Gerard. To me, he was and forever will be Papi. How in a couple minutes can I describe the essence of a man who was so complex and touched the lives of so many people, from multiple countries and cultures and colors. I don’t know but I’ll get the job done!
My father started his life with several hardships ahead of him. He was born in the beautiful but impoverished nation of Haiti. When he was only 7-years-old, his mother passed away and he never truly knew her. As a young adult, he narrowly escaped a firing squad as he had to flee his homeland due to political unrest. It sounds like the beginning of an action movie, but my Papi was determined for his legacy to have a different ending.
His leadership started young, when as the oldest of his siblings, he took on the incredible responsibility of being their second father. After he fled to the United States, he prospered as an electrician and taxi driver and always sent for his family to join him, one-by-one.
He lived the American Dream but he wanted everyone else to live that dream too. Throughout my life, I have personally witnessed example after example of my father helping out those in need. Need money to pay for a funeral? A wedding? A college education? Need help coming to America? How about a loan to start a business? Maybe yiou need help handling a family member who is losing their way. There were times I was concerned he was being taken advantage of. He always said that he learned from his father, Le Pere, the importance of “donner.” When you have more, you give back. To help others is a gift and God will bless you in the end.
He was also the flashiest, most well-dressed man I knew. From his Italian shoes, to his tailored suits and silk ties, he always made sure he was “border.” But to truly understand Papi, you have to look beyond the clothes, the flash, and his handsome face…and boy did he have a handsome face!
Thanks for the good genes, Papi. My dad never wore silver. He always wore gold. When I asked him why, he said it’s because everything always had to match. For the longest time, I always asked myself, “what the heck does that mean?” It’s only in this past week, after reflecting on the totality of this man’s life, I can say that I finally understand him. You see, the reason he always wore gold was because it always had to match his gold heart. Through his 87 years, his endless generosity and compassion is who my father was, what he always did, and exactly what he stood for.
My father wasn’t a church-going man, but he loved to sing his morning hymms. “Thank you, Jesus…thank you, Jesus.” Yes, thank you, Jesus. To have had Papi on this Earth for 87 years is God’s gift to us all.
Now God has decided it’s time for Papi to come home…come home to his mother, to Le Pere, to Andrea, and to the others we have lost. I’ll be honest, I don’t agree with God’s decision but I respect it. When I pray to God, I ask him to bring comfort and healing to my grieving family, I ask him to bless my father, and most important, I ask him to bless this Earth by making more people like Papi. Thank you, Papi, for being such a great father to all of us. Till we meet again.
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