He was - not a saint (way too ....interesting....for sainthood) but a good man.
Then you were exceptionally lucky.
Mother left father when I was 6 weeks old because he was an alcoholic, and she worried what would happen to my brother and me if she got sick. I was raised by her and grandparents that I adored. And while grandfather was a wonderful male role model, I so wished for that mercurial, brilliant soldier/poet who died in my childhood.
You had an interesting father. I’m green with envy, and so happy for you.