TO POP: JAMES T. CARLIN SR. TRIBUTE

August 17, 1988

Family, friends, and neighbors: We're gathered here today to say goodbye to a kind, big-hearted man, my father, Jim Carlin. It is impressive to see how many people he really touched gathered here now for one last time. He would have been moved as much as I am to see all of his friends and family together in one place. He may not be here in person to witness such a gracious outpouring of respect and affection, but believe me when I say that he is here in spirit.

He led a fine – perhaps not perfect, as no one's is – and all too-short life. Saying this may bias me, but he was quite successful in playing the roles of husband, father, grandfather, and only brother to seven sisters. After his family, his job was his life, even after he retired in 1980 after 33 years at Pennwalt. He is now wearing his favorite tie, the one he always wore, and the one he got from the company. I don't know much about sales work, but I'm sure he was a great salesman in his days of doing such. He certainly had the right personality for it, and, unlike Willy Loman (from the play Death of a Salesman), he was well liked. He didn't have to invent "make-believe" friends. You people are testimony to that.

I rarely heard him talk down about someone, and if he had any enemies, that would be news to me. In some ways I think he would have made an excellent politician, being as affable and gregarious as he was. He could give a talk to an audience or participate in church as the lector with little effort. And he surely would have loved to be in my position now, talking to all of you.

Those of you who knew him well know that he was a rabid baseball fan, and that he was faithful to the Phillies. He loved them like a second family, even when they were at their worst, which was quite often. Maybe I should not say this with many of his former co-workers here, but he used to take us kids to the games sometimes when he was supposed to be taking clients instead. We had our differences over the years, but the common ground between us was always baseball.

In a sports column in Tuesday's Inquirer, there was an article about the great Babe Ruth. The author of a biography on Ruth said, "I found in the people who knew him a warm affection. Ask about Ruth, and the first thing they would do, remembering, looking off into the past, would be to smile." The writer of the article, columnist Bill Lyon, asked, "Is there a nicer way to be remembered than that, than to have people asked about you smile fondly even before their first words?"

I think not. And that is how it will be, when you stop and think about my father, Jim Carlin.

Speaking from the bottom of my heart for my mother, my family, and myself, we thank you all so very much.

Bless you all.