Lincoln Malachi Reynolds was born in Cuba in 1928 and raised in Jamaica. He came to Canada in the 1950s to start a new life with his love Leonora.
What comes to mind first when I think of my dad? His love of family. I can’t even imagine how difficult the struggle was for my mom and my dad, raising four kids on one salary for many years. But it’s not the struggle that I remember. What I do remember is that I always had my dad close. When I look at pictures of my family, I see that his arm was always around one of us. I was the youngest of four, and the comfort and security was a huge help for me growing up and an example for me now that I’m raising my own family.
He wasn’t a man of many words but his actions showed how much he loved us. His commitment to work — 30 years as a research scientist at the Ontario Research Foundation in Mississauga — garnered him a stellar reputation and allowed him to cultivate many lifelong friendships. He even crossed paths with Jamaica’s former prime minister, Michael Manley!
Looking through suitcases of photographs has brought back so many wonderful memories of my late dad — his accomplishments, his hard work, but most of all what this trip down memory lane has shown me is what a loving family man Lincoln Reynolds was.
I need to keep these suitcases closer and open them up more. I guess the takeaway for me is that the memory of a wonderful father should never be hidden away. And If you are fortunate to still have a wonderful father around, make sure you keep him close.
(See if you can spot me in the family photos below!)
