GALEN CURRY
As children, my siblings and I were steeped in high fantasy through books, movies, and games. This, of course, was in large part thanks to our dad who encouraged our developing creativity by curating and participating in various quests, campaigns, and duels. A big part of fantasy games is the selection of a character or faction to embody as you make your way through, and early on we began to notice a trend when it came to David Curry’s role selections: a trend we dubbed “The Dad Race.”
When we played Magic: The Gathering, my child-mind would be drawn to the excitement of the red chaos and black necromancy, while dad always chose to harness the power of white magic, which is based in hope, order, and justice. When we’d creep into his study to watch him play fantasy RPGs on his computer and scam our way into expanding our 30 minutes of daily screen time, he would be playing a Paladin decked out in white armor. When given the option between orcs and dragons and various lycanthropes, dad would choose “human.” It got to a point where we could look at the factions on offer in any game and identify with staggering accuracy which was going to be The Dad Race. At the time, it felt so boring. Actually, still does. Isn’t the point of these fantasy games to simulate what life would be like as a morally bereft minotaur? But, over the years I’ve come to an understanding. Underneath his gruff exterior and his more and more jaded reactions to the occurrences of the world around him, David Curry is an idealist. He believes in goodness and in humanity and in the existence of objective beauty in the world. This idealism is so deep-rooted in his personality, he can’t even push it aside when gaming.
I’m not sure he’d agree with me. Ol’ Dave can be a bit of a curmudgeon; his own grandchildren call him “Umpy” for God’s sake. His front row seat to the crumbling state of higher education and the world at large would test anyone’s idealism. But, thankfully, he doesn’t have to agree. His actions and decisions over the course of his life have agreed for him.
My dad has always made family (nuclear, extended, and chosen) a priority in his life. This has been exhibited with relentless consistency. There has not been a year of my life when we didn’t attend our annual Curry family reunion. Please note, I was not in charge of our family travel as a toddler. The trips were planned and executed by my parents, driving the 26 hours from the North Country of New York to the panhandle of Florida every year. I’ve never understood people who feel like attending a family reunion is a chore. Our attendance was never out of obligation, but out of pure excitement and joy, trickling down from my Dad’s genuine love of being part of this wonderful Curry network.
I wouldn’t be a musician if it weren’t for the support of David Curry. Sure, I still would’ve liked music and maybe even pursued it professionally, but my dad’s undying support of my writing and performing fortified me through numerous bouts of near-quitting. His love of lyricism and songwriting have been foundational in making me the musician I am today (which might not be much, but you shoulda seen it when he first started supporting me). It didn’t have to be music though, it’s my dad’s unwavering belief in following pursuits you love that is noteworthy.
My dad’s brilliance as a teacher was evident to me through my entire life, but his brilliance as a professor to others only came to me in little spurts, mostly through meeting his former students who claimed my dad had changed their lives and taught them to think about the world differently. He can try to hide behind his scruffy beard and occasional grumpiness, but underneath, he’s a big softie who believes in truth, critical thought, and the potential for good. How could that message have gotten through to so many people, family and students alike, if that wasn’t a core part of who he is? I’ve certainly had teachers and professors I was fond of, but none I would describe like his students describe him. Maybe my bar was set too high at home. Maybe there is something to always picking The Dad Race. Maybe. Probably still gonna go for a werewolf or something, though.
I love my life because I fill it with pursuits and people that I love. That didn’t come a priori.* That came from my dad. My favorite things about the world exist in front of me because my dad taught me how to identify and appreciate them. I am who I am and where I am because of you and it’s really nice here.
I love you Dad. Congrats on your retirement. I’m glad you’ll have more time now to experiment with your cheese breads.
*editors said I had to include at least one “philosophy thing”