My Dad the Slash Man
On this Father’s Day, I remember my dad, Hyman Dolber. Both my parents and my stepmother have passed away, but I am still realizing how they affected my life. They were all role models for me in one way or another. My father was an affectionate, hard-working family man. When I was a child, I idolized him, basking in his presence and his love, limited as it was by my parent’s divorce and resulting geographical separation. I am grateful to my father for a lot of things, but one thing that I am especially grateful for is his multi-dimensional nature. He was a slash man, as I am a slash women. My father had a long Wall Street career, spanning more than four decades. He was also possibly one of the finest harmonica players I have ever heard, performing publicly for decades. He was a part of a group called The Polka Dots, one of the first electronic harmonica acts. They played extensively on the radio, hit the Ed Sullivan Show, and graced the Borscht Belt for many years, among other things. The sound of my father’s amazing playing, especially his rendition of De Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance, is emblazoned in my memory. He was as much a musician all his life as he was a successful businessman, and of course, father, husband, lover of golf, dogs and Atlantic City. I too have had a long successful Wall Street career. I’m not a musician (but I am in love with one – coincidence, I think not!). At the same time, I have been and continue to be deeply involved in the personal growth and development field as an Option Method teacher. And I am a writer. And that is my latest revelation about my wonderful father. He showed me that we can immerse ourselves personally and professionally in more than one thing with equal passion and commitment. He never talked about it. He just lived it. Now that’s a role model. Happy Father’s Day, Daddy.
Picture of Hy Dolber and the Polka Dots. Hy is the one top left.
Pam Dolber wrote on June 21, 2009 at 3:50 pm:
He left us too soon. I miss him every day. How he would have loved the electronic revolution with all the crazy cell phones and computers. He’d have the biggest and the baddest.
Leslie Webster wrote on June 27, 2009 at 7:17 pm:
I miss him too. He was so into the moment and when you talked he really listened. I wish we had taken the time to talk more. Happy Father’s Day Daddy.