Eulogy

LCDR William Bentley Irwin     

MMM CD (Ret)

 Charlotte asked me to say a few words about my father and I knew immediately that I would not easily get through the words here today.  I knew I would cry.  I also knew that if I didn’t have the courage to stand up here and speak in memoriam to him then I had learned nothing from him. 

 Accepting this as my only way to honour his memory I realized I had only a few minutes to tell you about the most influential person in my life.  How could I do that, how could I possibly tell you who he was or what he was or what he did for his family, and for so many other people.

 And then I started to cry. And I cried for fifteen minutes as I sat and thought about how impossible it would be for me to come close to sharing this man’s life and accomplishments in a few minutes.

 And then he was standing beside me, and I cried harder.

 “Mark,” he whispered, “you’re just a university graduate – Keep it simple, make a list.”

 And then I laughed while I cried because those would have been his words exactly.

 So I made a list, and on that list appeared the words:

Courage, Honour, Honesty, Love, Perseverance, Loyalty, Commitment, Humour, Anger, Forgiveness, Strength, Tenacity, Kindness, Generosity, Compassion, Friendship, Errors, Apologies, Charm, God, Country, Wisdom, Officer, Gentleman, Comrades,..

 “There are more Mark.”  He whispered again into my ear.

 “Dad,” I replied,  “lets not push our luck here.”

 I wish I had all his qualities.  I think I am working on some, but on others I am a bit of a slow learner.  I confessed my shortcomings to him in private some time ago.  He got that twinkle in his eye, and said: “Listen Jerko, although I am perfect now, there were times when I too was a bit of a slow learner.”

 I did mention he had a sense of humour?

 LCDR WB Irwin paid his way and paid his dues.  He never shirked from the job at hand.  He found humour and a positive in everything that confronted him, although not necessarily at the moment of confrontation.

 In my youth I personally frustrated him to great length and in many ways, but he always loved me, always forgave me, always let me back into his heart, and always gave me a new opportunity to grow. To him I owe a debt I shall never be able to repay.  If I can live my life with the courage and dignity he displayed as commonplace I shall be satisfied.

 He worked his whole life to make my life and the lives of those around him better.  He left everything he touched better than when he found it.  He never expected anyone to do anything that he would not do himself.

 Make no mistake, my father was not a perfect person

He was as human as you and I.  He knew that, and I believe that is what makes a man great.

 LCDR WB Irwin was an officer and a gentleman.

 And may God bless him and keep him until I see him again.