Father Loss

Hard Time

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Uncle Billy, the father figure in my life, came back from prison broken and distant. And before long, he was dead — leaving me to wrestle with his complicated legacy.

25 Things I Learned from My Dad

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Life lessons, in chronological order, from a recently deceased parent.

Loss, Squared

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One moment, I was planning a long-awaited trip to East Africa. The next, I was facing down two life-or-death decisions.

Revisiting the Track after My Father’s Death

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I'd abandoned the 440-yard loop long ago. Returning to it allowed me to begin grieving my father's death.

Stay Classy

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I have a terrible relationship with sister. How do I get through my dad’s memorial service without creating a scene? Our advice columnist weighs in.

A Night With ‘The Dead Dads Club’

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A new show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater draws comedy from grief.

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Missing Dad on Super Bowl Sunday

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I could care less about football, but my late father loved it. And on the weekend of the big game, I feel his absence acutely.

When Everything Scared Me

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After my parents died in a plane crash, there was grief, pain and loneliness. But above all, there was fear — until there wasn’t.

My First Real World AIDS Day

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My father died of AIDS 22 years ago. For more than two decades, I avoided World AIDS Day. This year, I'm owning my history. Here's why.

Small Screen Refuge

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To distract ourselves from Dad's fatal diagnosis, my brother and I planted ourselves in front of the TV — inhaling a steady diet of "The Jetsons" and "The Dating Game."

Closing My Eyes, Seeing My Father

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I refused to look at my dad in the morgue — a decision I came to second-guess. Then my father showed up in my dreams.

Around the World, Ashes in Tow

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After watching cancer kill my father, I booked a one-way 'tribute trip' overseas. I don't know when I'll be ready to return.

Hurricane Sandy’s Human Toll

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Don't tell me hard it was to get to work during "superstorm" Sandy, or how long you lived without power. The hurricane killed my father right before my eyes.

It’s Halloween: Trigger Treat

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Halloween imagery takes on new meaning in the wake of my father’s suicide.

After Dad’s Death, Around the World or Back to School?

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A young woman mourning her father wonders whether she should finish college — despite major financial hurdles — or travel to clear her head. Our advice guru weighs in.

Labor Day Love and Loss on Lake George

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I tell my son about my idyllic summers on Lake George — just not about the Labor Day tragedy that followed one of them.

Letter of Last Resort

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Had I unknowingly destroyed my father's suicide note all those years ago?

Father’s Day Without Dad, Vol. 10

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My rational side tells me that the third Sunday in June is just another day. But when that day rolls around, I feel my dad's absence more intensely.

My Father, Myself

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On the anniversary of Dad’s death, I honored him by spending a leisurely day, uncharacteristically, alone.

Mourning the Dad Who Walked Out on Me

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My dad walked out on me when I was nine. All grown up, I decided to find him — only to find out he was dead. Here's how I mourned.

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