My Own Santini: A Father and Son Story

Description

In 1951, John Case made his arrival as the fifth of six children born to an Irish Catholic mother and Marine Corps father. What he had no way of knowing was that his father had not wanted a fifth or sixth child and openly resented their presence. John would spend most of his childhood living in fear of a repeat of a terrifying display of anger that occurred when he was seven years old. That fear would continue until he reached a personal epiphany and escaped the constant state of implied threat that had defined his childhood in so many ways. His story also traces the ups and downs of his parent's relationship, and how the phases of that relationship impacted their parenting abilities, interest and competency. Set against the backdrop of 1950s and 60s middle class America, from California to Hawaii to Michigan, My Own Santini also reflects the changes in American culture from the relative calm of the post war years to the volatility of the late sixties. At times both heartbreaking and heartwarming, My Own Santini is the story of a personal journey that proves that one's past does not dictate one's future and, as importantly, even life lessons learned through pain and fear can be used to craft a positive result.

John J. Case retired from the business world in 2019 after stints as President and/or CEO at La-Z-Boy Incorporated, Electrolux and Leggett & Platt. He worked a total of fifty-seven years before deciding to retire to enjoy other pursuits. My Own Santini is his first book. In it he recounts the cycle of fear he grew up with as the son of an emotionally abusive Marine father. He also shares how he overcame that fear and the parallels between his own father and the father in Pat Conroy's epic novel, The Great Santini. He lives in Plymouth, Michigan with his wife, Barbara.