Dad

Jacob William (Willem) Bruynzeel Jr. II

I speak here of the time I’ve spent with him and of other times of which I am aware and I speak of him not in the past but as a continuous entity and not only as we have known him, but as he exists still. This tribute of my dad is merely a fraction of his eternity of which I have been a part. 

To say that dad was a good man or a good friend merely scratches the surface of a truly stellar member of man.  

From my selfish viewpoint, he was the best father a kid could have ever conceived and I mean this from the bottom of my heart. As our relationship grew over the years he became my best friend.  

I know that a great many people around the world are grateful to him for his being, and his help and service to them and  mankind at large.  

Jake is a giving man and an honorable man with truly worthwhile values. He cherishes life.  

He has been a source for admiration and truly my mentor and I am proud in the extreme to have been a ‘chip of the ol’ block’ as he would say. As he is of his father of whom he holds in the highest regard.  

Dad didn’t waste time with disparaging words or criticism, but rather he found the good in things and that beingness will always shine through me and all those I can influence with the richness he afforded me.  

I must look at his moving on as I know he would have wanted; not looking at the loss of him but rather acknowledging the greatness which was he and continuing to look at the good things in all our lives. He has left a legacy, not only in his autobiography, but in me, and I will continue to make him proud of his contribution to my existence and will wherever possible pass on his wisdom and love of life to any and all who will listen.  

My dad is a big being.  

He is an honest man and his values never faltered. He is a rock. With determination that comes from deep within him which he displayed in many of his accomplishments. He worked hard to get what he wanted and he got it. He won many a hard-fought battle.  

He also had pitfalls but I never heard him complain or give any of the responsibility for that to another. He was eternally gracious of help and offered a return in abundant kind.   

My dad was a true friend to those worthy of that but he took no bullshit from anyone who aimed to dish it out. Because of his demeanor he rarely found “bullshit” but when he did he dealt with it swiftly and moved on without complaining, oh sure he’d talk about this or that and share an occurrence with those close to him (he did like to ‘share’ the spoken word…….)  but he’d not be a victim whatsoever nor would he let it effect his drive and determinism to move forward.  

My dad likes people, he likes them whether they be an African chief held in lofty esteem and bowed to by the masses or the man sweeping the gutter. He granted beingness to all, and this is truly greatness and is also part of his legacy for which humbly attempt to mirror and as I’m sure he will again. He continued to learn from others even near the end of this life and didn’t care of the stature of the source of his learning, he was humble to a fault.  

Oh yea, there are those of you who’d disagree about his humbleness, it’s true he could weave a yarn and embellish some things about himself, but I say here that he was truly expressing more of himself than he ever believed. In other words  he is truly a unique individual and really never hunted for agreement to that.  

I hereby acknowledge him for his contributions and exceptional  worth while visiting us.  

I love and admire you dad. 

Farewell, until we meet again……..   

Your eternal friend

Jeffrey Jacob Bruynzeel

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           California coast July 85'         

      With his granddaughter Keanna Tej