David Bruce Sinclair 1940-2009

To those of you who know me, you may or may not have known my dad. For the years that ensued after my parents split, his was a life of roller coaster up and downs, and in the end he is right where he always wanted to be. Sitting next to Christ.

He grew up on the north shore of Chicago attending New Trier HS in Winnetka. He lived on the stage there, and yearned to become an actor and singer, eventually attending The American Conservatory of Music where he met my mom. He had a tremendous voice, eventually touring the country with the Norman Luboff Choir in the early 60's. But the stage was not to be, and missing his young children back home, he fell back on his other passion, golf.

Starting as an assistant pro at Park Ridge CC, he went on to be head pro at Lake Shore CC in Glencoe. This was his the pinnacle of his success, and he stayed there for years. I have many fond memories of that place, including working summers there in the shop, cleaning clubs and shagging balls on the range. And endless lessons hitting balls into a net in the ladies locker room in the winter. Oh and he had a 1 for a handicap. It was during this time that he bestowed a great legacy on my brother and I, the perfect swing. Not to be followed by that handicap tho, I am still like a 15. OK, 20.

A bad back forced him out of the job he loved, and it was not long after that that he started a new family, eventually blessing us with new siblings Christine, Doug and Laura. In the intervening years, he tried his hand at numerous ventures, but I find it curious that he settled on a career as a painter. After all, Christ was a carpenter, no? And it was in His love that the final chapter of his life was written. At Cornerstone Community Church, he poured his all into the youth and the choir and was the producer of the Christmas musical for years. I can't even imagine the hours and sweat that went into producing a show that only ran once a year. But he loved it.

Then in 2001, he was diagnosed with dementia, a horrible disease that kills the brain and takes away a persons identity, bit by bit. It was hard watching the dad that I loved slowly fade away. When he could no longer sit and watch a simple soccer game, (he attended tons of my kids' sports events with pride and fervor over the years) I knew that it was the beginning of the end. But throughout it all, he always kept his temperament, and knew that this was the Lords plan for him. And he was OK with it. Not OK with having his life stolen from him just when he should be reaping the benefits of a long life, but OK with eventually being where he said he always wanted to be. At peace, sitting next to God.