Father thankful for daughters’ successes in their life journeys

All 3, including 2 with disability, will be home for holiday

The Williams family of Bellbrook (from left): WSU professor Dr. Julie Williams, Wright-Patt medical illustrator Teresa Williams, Dad Pete, his wife, Alice, and massage therapist Ann Williams. Pete Williams says he's thankful for the successes of his three daughters.

Contributed Photo The Williams family of Bellbrook (from left): WSU professor Dr. Julie Williams, Wright-Patt medical illustrator Teresa Williams, Dad Pete, his wife, Alice, and massage therapist Ann Williams. Pete Williams says he's thankful for the successes of his three daughters.

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By Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer 10:37 AM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

BELLBROOK — Many fathers say their greatest hope is that their children grow up to live happy, successful lives.

Pete Williams has made it there, and when asked what he was most thankful for on this Thanksgiving, he pulled out a Father’s Day photo of him with his wife, Alice, and daughters, Teresa, Ann and Julie.

“A picture is worth 1,000 words, and that says it all right there,” he said.

Williams’ journey took a few more twists and turns than most, as Teresa and Julie were born with diastrophic dysplasia, a form of dwarfism.

“There was a time in our early days that we went to Johns Hopkins hospital for operations, to the Cleveland area, to the Mayo Clinic,” Pete Williams said. “I used to tell (Teresa and Julie), ‘You might be disabled, and some things might be closed to you, but many other things are opened up.’ ”

Pete, an Army veteran who taught and coached at Chaminade, Belmont and Centerville high schools, admitted being “scared to death” when Teresa left for the Columbus College of Art and Design, and when his Julie did an internship and worked for a hospital in New York City.

The fear has turned to pride as Julie earned her doctorate in psychology and last year was voted professor of the year by Wright State University’s graduating class. Teresa works as a medical illustrator at Wright-Patterson Medical Center, and Ann is a licensed massage therapist who runs Bellbrook Massage Therapy.

And with all of them back in Bellbrook or Kettering, Pete has been looking forward to Thanksgiving Day.

“Alice is going to do all the baking, Dr. Julie is going to cook the turkey, Teresa is going to bring the wine and bread, and Ann is going to do the mashed potatoes and green beans,” Pete said. “I’m just so thankful to have all four of my girls together.”

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