By Justin Pritchette, Arizona List 2025 Summer Intern
A Father Who Cares
One of my favorite memories of my Dad was him taking me to Boston as a senior trip to celebrate my high school graduation. With my Dad being from there, I grew up as a huge Red Sox fan. My dream was to see a rivalry game against the Yankees at Fenway, and he made that come true. We watched the Red Sox sweep all three games they played, screaming “Sweet Caroline” at the top of our lungs while eating every kind of junk food they had at the park.
One thing stood out to me from this trip, but it had nothing to do with baseball. We had been sitting at a bar when an elderly individual struggled to reach his seat. Before I had even noticed, my Dad rushed over and helped this stranger, in the middle of our conversation, with no hesitation. That’s just who my Dad is. As a physical therapist, he has dedicated his life to caring for others. Even outside of work, my Dad has an instinct to notice when people need help and to step up without being asked.
This same compassion I see from my Dad comes in other ways as well. I remember one time when my Dad was driving me back to my college apartment in Tucson after a visit home to Phoenix. While discussing the previous presidential election, he expressed how disappointed he was about the way many Americans, especially men, treat women in leadership. It was baffling to him that some men, despite growing up with strong women in their lives (mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, etc.), still doubt their leadership capabilities.
What struck me was how he felt about it. While my Dad never had a daughter, one of the most important values he instilled in my brothers and me was to care for and respect the women around us. He wanted us to recognize their strength, their wisdom, and their right to have a seat at every table. It is not just the responsibility of women to support women; it’s ours too.
So this Father’s Day, I’m not only thinking about what my Dad means to me, but also about what fathers can mean for America’s future. Supporting women in leadership is a family issue. Meaning, it’s also a men’s issue. In order to raise good sons, fathers must teach them how to stand beside and respect women. Decisions that work for everyone can’t be made if half of the population isn’t there to make them.
Thank you, Dad, for amazing memories, caring for strangers. and showing me what it means to be a real man.
Justin Pritchette, Arizona List Summer Intern
