Tony, better known as ‘Rocking Daddy’, was everything they could wish for for his family: hard -working, caring and always ready to give love. But on December 7, 2022, the unexpected and tragic news came: Tony suddenly died of a cardiac arrest. His son Roberto remembers his father as someone who always had everything for his family. “He has always been good for us.”
Tony had two great love in his life: his family and music. He was a dedicated father, always loving and involved. But music also played a major role. “When we were small, he was often gone. He played in different bands and was regularly on stage as a bass guitarist, “says Roberto.
And if he was home? Then the guitar sounds sounded throughout the house. “Our mom could really enjoy that. She sometimes went to his performances. Those were beautiful evenings, together at festivals or at Hotel de Brabander. They both thought it was great. ”
Tony played in various cover bands and in recent years he was part of a rock ‘n roll band called Rocking Drifters. “That is why he also got the nickname Rocking Daddy.” But above all, Tony was a sweet and caring father. “Dad was a man who was always right in front of his turnip, but his heart was in the right place. He felt like a best friend for the whole family. We were all very close. ”
But two years ago things go wrong. Tony suddenly dies of a cardiac arrest. “My brother’s phone call came unexpectedly. He told me that they were resuscitating him. ” Roberto lives around the corner with his parents and goes quickly to their house. “At that moment you come in and you see your mother sitting there, completely in shock. Your whole world is upside down at such a moment. ”
Tony was no longer taken to the hospital. “My mother has resuscitated him herself, but it didn’t help. The emergency services took over and they did everything about it. They have been busy for so long. There was no hope that he would survive. ”
“He was the puzzle piece of our family.”
The unexpected death of Tony hits like a bomb. “He was the puzzle piece of our family and in one fell swoop it was torn away. The lack of our porridge is huge and sometimes still difficult to comprehend. I also find it very difficult that I can’t just ask my father more help. I also had so many questions to ask him, that is no longer possible. He was really my great example. ”
The death of his father has left deep marks at Roberto. “I found it very difficult to have peace with that we could not say goodbye. That cut in so that for a long time I didn’t know how to deal with it. ”
Yet the Tony family tries to keep close every day. “We always come together on his birthday and day of death, to celebrate his life.” At home, Roberto, together with his twin brother Ricardo, has set up a special place, all the way to his father. “It is full of things that have to do with music. And there is even a doll that looks like him. ”
Roberto has had a tattoo made of his father’s bass guitar. In this way he always wears his father close to himself. “The text on it means in Spanish:” My rocking father, forever in my heart. ”
