My Dad, Peter Athan was a smart, kind, proud and super chill dude. He never stressed. He told us all all the time “don’t sweat the small stuff”. He loved my mom more than anything...54 years of marriage. He kissed her and said I love you EVERY MORNING their entire life together. They were an amazing couple and will always be an inspiration to me.
My mom told me yesterday, “I came to the US with $20 and nothing else and he gave me everything I could ever want. Together we made my perfect life."
Growing up in New York he always told me and my brother Alexander, “life is tough in the Big Apple...don't complain, just work harder.” And he led by example. He never complained about anything. Never asked for help. Never wanted to be a burden. Just like his mom, Helen, my Oma, who Alex and I loved dearly.
Peter was a father, a husband, a coach, a guidance counselor, a business manager, a technology wiz before everyone else, and a collector (man he was a crazy collector!)...Dragging me and Alex to train collector shows all over the northeast on many weekends as a kid, collecting Disney characters and 65-67 Ford Mustangs (which I loved but was logistically not easy on a 1/4 acre lot on Long Island where we lived). Those who knew him well know he took his collecting seriously, for sure.
He took care of his bucket list trips in the later part of his life as well. He always wanted to visit China as he used to tell me when I was a kid “a billion people can be a force-pay attention”. When he finally visited about 20+years ago he told me when he got back “Thomas- you have to invest in China. They are going to be important in the world economy." I did.
He always loved “animals in the wild” and finally went on safari in Africa later in his life. He loved it so much he tried to replicate it in his backyard! Those who knew him well know he bought 100s of pounds of seed and dried corn to feed the deer, fox and raccoons in his backyard! He coulda taught Joe Exotic a few things. He found so much joy watching them in the backyard through the window from his living room recliner!
We didn’t travel much as kids because he traveled a lot for work. He saved that for later in his life. I recall fondly our family trip to Greece in the 1990s to see the tiny mountaintop village where his father grew up (my OPA). He and my mom then built a love of the southwest traveling many times to Santa Fe and Sedona.
Born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens and working in Manhattan his whole life he was SUCH A CITY GUY. He taught me that Peter Lugers was the best restaurant in the world and to carry my wallet in my front pocket when I was in Manhattan and I still do it EVERYTIME I’m there....to this day.
Because he loved NYC so much, one of my fondest recent memories came 4 years ago when we chartered a yacht for 3 days and toured around Manhattan and the boroughs and up the Hudson River to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary. My Dad, my Mom, Alex, Kim, Drew and Katy. He was in heaven and I’ll never forget that.
He loved and enjoyed his grandchildren so much and they loved their OPA right back.
Peter lived a great life and touched many people. He will forever live in the hearts and souls of all of us who knew him best.
We will always love you dad. Thank you for everything. Please Rest In Peace and watch over us.
Love, Thomas & Alex
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