Richard Anthony Desjardins Jr is my father and was born in Waterbury, CT on July 30th, 1962.  He is the middle child; with one older sister and one younger brother.  My father had many careers during his short life - a baker, electrical salesman, a painter, a maintenance worker, among others.  He loved cars, motorcycles, and classic rock.  He could fix almost anything and taught me many life skills that have facilitated my time living on my own.  His lifelong nickname was "jellyhead" because he would always hurt himself doing the simplest tasks.  My mother shortened his nickname to "jel".  I definitely get my clumsiness from my father! Thankfully, I have his patience and not my mother's!