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June was a month of loss and reflection. I shared a post on LinkedIn about my father’s passing — a man whose quiet leadership touched far more lives than he ever realised. Here’s a deeper look at that story, and why his legacy continues to shape how I think about community, work, and what really matters.
Grief and the strange terrain of “Sadmin"
My dad died, aged 80, after a sharp decline this year. Supporting my mum, kids, sister — grieving myself — while navigating the admin of death (“sadmin”) has been a full-time job. Keeping my business focus has been tough. Even LinkedIn felt like a foreign country in the face of a life ending.
Modest to the core — My Dad’s quiet influence
Dad was, to his core, a modest man. He showed up — week in, week out — for so many people. Generous with his time and money, yet fiercely private when it came to his own needs and our family’s.
The outpouring of love since he died has been eye-opening. I don’t think he believed the people at his standing-room-only service even liked him — let alone that they’d miss him or speak in his memory.
Referees, red sweaters and standing-room only
He’d been a football referee since he was 17. Half the room was filled with men who carried themselves like long-retired officers — you could spot the referees and club managers a mile off. So many shared how he mentored or supported them in a hundred quiet ways.
For over a decade, Dad visited a country park six days a week. Twice weekly, he led fast-paced Healthy Walks — right up until late last year. Earlier this week, on a blistering day, nearly 50 people turned up to walk in his memory. I heard story after story: how he helped, how he listened, how he made people laugh and feel part of something.
Walking his legacy forward
I’ve come to believe that legacy isn’t about status or visibility — it’s about showing up, listening, and building small pockets of belonging. Dad did that. At Hearken, we believe in leading by listening. Here’s to all the quiet leaders creating connection one steady step at a time.
Thanks for reading — and here’s to the quiet leaders who build community, one steady step at a time.
📸 Dad, in his element — steady, generous, and quietly joyful. He never needed the spotlight to make an impact.