Please forgive me if any of this information is not 100% accurate.  It is very difficult for me to write this as I'm sure you can imagine and I'm pulling some of this from memory from what my Father told me when he was alive.  Thank you.

Noel Anthony McDermott was born in Washington D.C. in 1937 and went to an all boys Catholic Military School for most of his Kindergarden and on schooling.  He then attended St. John's College Prep High School.  He had 5 children with his first wife who unfortantely passed away from Cancer at an early age.  When she passed away, events took place that caused him to have to move to the West Coast and that's where the story starts with me....

My Dad met my Mom, Betty, dancing.  They fell in love immediately.  My Mom always said that Dad had this magnetism about him, that he was so fun and full of life.  I was born in May of 1966 and I spent 11 years with Dad and Mom married.  Those early years were difficult in many ways, but I also have found memories of Dad teaching me how to play baseball, golf, pool, bowling and more. 

Dad was always great around the holidays.  Something both of my Sisters, Donna and Judy, always mention even though he was not their birth Father.  He had this creative side that allowed him to paint window murals that were very good and festive.  He also created custom candles, puzzle art and more.  He taught me how to drive a car and did it on a stick shift....I'll never forget how patient he was with me on that day in that parking lot...I thought I was going to blow out his clutch as I killed the engine over and over again.

My Mom and Dad split when I was eleven, after that he met Arlene and I know he really loved her and the two of them fed off of their creative abilities and made many beautiful things together.  Unfortunately Arlene passed away from Cancer.  I was home when she passed and I remember how hard it was for him to find out.  

After some time being alone Dad met Jewell and married his 4th and final wife. They moved to a beautiful farm in Freedom, CA in 1988.  He loved being there.  They divorced 13 years later and Dad stayed on the farm.  He loved riding his tractor, taking care of all his plants and trees and working on home improvement projects like building the spa room or deck around the back of the house.  He did a lot of things himself with his own hands and was very meticulous and detailed about it when he did.

He spent several years golfing with the Watsonville S.I.R.s organization. He loved hanging out with them and traveling to different golf courses around CA and NV.

He loved being with my two boys, Daniel and Spencer.  If you talk to anyone that knew him, it was his happy place to be with them.  He loved teaching them golf and playing it with them along with many other sports and creative activites.  He was able to see both of them graduate high school and Daniel graduate college.  You can see one of those pics on this site.

Dad was also a world class cook, who made us many fantastic meals and BBQ's.  Most of my foundest moments of being with him were after my boys were born and always included memories of these amazing meals and desserts.

He was very schedule oriented and set in his ways.  We didn't always see eye to eye on politics or other matters, but in general, I respected the way he lived his life and handled his money.  He taught me many things that helped me become the man I am today.

There are many things we share in common, our love for Sports, our love for cooking and good food, our strong passionate way of doing things (meaning we don't do it unless we go all in and finish the job and we do it with passion) and our generous kind side that will help when we can to those that cross our paths and need it.  Including volunteering time to many non-profit organizations.

The boys and I went and saw him this past Christmas for his Birthday and Christmas and we are so glad we did.  He of course cooked his famous Prime Rib dinner that was amazing as always.  We opened presents and shared stories.

Many people may not know that he was an Elvis fan and always said he would die like the King.  Turns out, he actually did and did on Elvis' birthday.  This does and doesn't surprise me, because my Dad was many things, but he for sure was a man of his word and many times would surprise us all by the amazing things he could pull off by simply setting his mind to it, thinking it through and delivering on his promise.

I will miss you dearly Dad.  It hasn't fully hit me, but I will do my best to live the rest of my life the way I know you would want me to.  Thank you for being an amazing Grampski to my two boys, Daniel and Spencer and for being a good, supportive and loving Dad to me.

WE LOVE YOU!

Sincerely,



Brian, Daniel and Spencer McDermott