Dear Family, Friends and Community,
As we settled into Ridgewood six years ago, I had no idea what an excellent adventure we were embarking upon. A year and a half later we started house shopping and that’s when the Dads’ Night chatter started. The boys weren’t even in kindergarten yet, but I was already feeling the Hawes recruitment pitch.
Although my first year in Dads’ Night, DN73, was a blur, the comradery and togetherness stuck with me. Over the years I’ve come to truly believe you get out what you put into this organization, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Dads’ Night 77 with Matt over the past fourteen months and two weeks. (But who’s counting…)
To Melissa, thank you for the support, encouragement, and patience. Four years of late Thursday nights in January and February morphed into a year of meetings, calls, unrelenting texts, and more as we charted a new course through the most challenging and restrictive year ever. I could not have done it without you by my side pushing me along, being the voice of reason, and so much more, all while teaching the kids, managing the family, and trying to work. I am a better person because of you, I love you.
To Connor and Austin, you are amazing, smart, and talented young men. I am so proud to watch you grow. More than a fun show with a bunch of dads on stage doing silly things, I hope Dads’ Night teaches you that you can have fun while doing something that is bigger than you.
To Rosie, wow what a ride it’s been. We had no idea what we were in for when we started down this path. I couldn’t think of a better partner to share this experience with. Thank you for your friendship, support, and the laughs. Christina, Zack and Chloe, thank you for lending him to me.
Finally, Dr. Sem, McGrath, Sands, Giammarella, Powers, Ciliento and too many more to mention, thank you all for the support and encouragement this past year; this is not a two-person job.
Now, enjoy the show!
Eric
Father, Husband, DN77 Co-Chairman
