Dads are such an important part of a family, and during the pandemic, I’ll admit, I could not have done it without the help of my husband. He helped me with home schooling, did the majority of the cooking, and even helped out with Swoon. I asked Brent what he thought the ideal Father’s Day might look like this year, and this is what he had to say. “For the last nine years on Father’s Day we have gotten Dylan to the bus so she could leave for Camp Longhorn, so Father’s Day has always been busy. Since her camp got pushed back this year due to the pandemic, I would love for us to eat at Pine Forest Country Club as a family and then play 9 holes of golf. We can possibly end the day watching the movie “Tin Cup” all together or I can watch it alone. I don’t want to push my luck too much!” A simple request to such a great dad!
Here are a few other men in Memorial and how they plan to spend Father’s Day.
Allen Brivic
You own BrivicMedia and have been a key figure in the Houston community for many years. How did you get started in advertising and marketing?
I responded to a classified ad in the NYTimes: “Wanted Bright Young College Grad Looking for Exciting Career in Advertising”. How true the exciting part has been.
Tell us about how you volunteer and give back to our community and why? Houston is unique with its spirit of volunteerism. I have reached a point in my life where I realize how important it is to give back. With so many worthy local organizations, it is difficult to decide where to focus my energies. Because Alzheimer’s has had a major effect on our families, my wife and I serve on the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute National Council. Also, as a frustrated artist, I am able to help satisfy my desires by serving on the board of the Art Colony Association, producers of the Bayou City Art Festival.
Tell us about your family; full disclosure, as you well know, I am friends with your adorable daughter Tara and am obsessed with your granddaughter Sadie- Who else rounds out your family? I am extremely lucky that all 3 of my children have chosen to make Houston their home. We have started working on the next generation, with 2 grandchildren (Sadie 5 years-old & Cory 8 months-old when this issue comes out). On the way is another granddaughter, scheduled for an August arrival. Aside from not having family dinners at a restaurant, the current pandemic has not stopped the clan from visiting us regularly, as we safely socialize around each corner of our pool.
Last question – What does the perfect Father’s Day look like to you?
Obviously bonding with the family is at the top of the list, followed by franks & beans and a night of online poker.
Don McCormack
You have lived in the Memorial community for many years, what brought you to this area of Houston? I can’t take credit for all of it, but once we had our first child Joy pushed for us to move into SBISD. We loved Valley Oaks Elementary and especially Spring Valley Village. It has been the perfect place to raise our kids while they attend VOE, SBMS and MHS.
Tell us about volunteering and give back to our community? I’ve been riding the MS 150 for 25 years, and will complete my 26th ride this September at the rescheduled Texas MS 150. It truly is a family affair and our kids Hannah, Ian and Evelyn have been at every finish line since their birth. I’ve been fortunate enough to be named to the MS 150 Fundraising Hall of Fame and was recognized by the National MS Society for my volunteerism. I also served on the South Central Board of Trustees and as their Treasurer. My son’s involvement with Troop 478 of Boy Scouts has afforded me the opportunity to serve as an Assistant Scout Master and their Treasurer.
Tell us about your family. I met Joy at a Happy Hour off Richmond Ave. and we’ve been married 20 years this September. We are lucky enough to have three great kids. Hannah is an incoming junior at MHS. Ian is an incoming freshman and Evelyn will finish VOE this year.
What does the perfect Father’s Day look like to you? I would love everything to be back to normal such as going out to restaurants with my family and not having to worry about washing my hands nonstop and maybe taking a bike ride along the bayou with my family.
Wesley Long
You have lived in the Memorial community for many years. What brought you to this area of Houston? We moved to Spring Branch to be close to The Regis School. At the time, my wife Megan was working downtown and I was working at Houston Methodist Hospital. We fell in love with Spring Branch and have made it our home.
Tell us about how you volunteer and give back to our community and why? I volunteer with the Scouts as an assistant scoutmaster. We have volunteered as a family, with Kids’ Meals, Books Between Kids, Catholic Charities, and ECHOS. Volunteering enriches our lives. I serve as the medical director of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory at Houston Methodist, so I’m focused on providing high quality health care to the greater Houston area. I am also passionate about science communication and helping youth learn more about science and medicine as careers.
You are married with two sons. Tell us about your family. We are proud parents of two very active boys who play soccer, basketball, rugby, and football. Carter will be starting at St. Thomas High School this fall, while Jack will be starting 5th grade at The Regis School. We enjoy traveling as a family, hiking, camping, and dining at our favorite Spring Branch restaurants.
Last question- What does the perfect Father’s Day look like to you? A nice breakfast, then a relaxing day with my family. There would definitely be time spent outdoors, with perfect weather and no mosquitos.
Pat Clynes
Memorial resident Pat Clynes is owner of Fritz Kennel in Spring Branch. He is husband to Terri and dad to twin daughters Avery and MacKenzie. We asked him what he plans to do this Father’s Day.
“My ideal Father’s Day is lounging around the house spending quality time with my wife and daughters. They let me pick my favorite tv shows and then we go out for a casual dinner. Just a quiet and relaxing day.”
Ron Ellis
You’ve lived in Memorial for many years. What brought you to this area? My wife, Molly, grew up here. We loved the charm of the big yards full of trees, proximity to our church, St. Cecilia, quality education and wonderful neighbors. Community organizations like SBMSA were really the cherry on top.
Tell us about your volunteer work and giving back to our community Like most fathers, I volunteered as a coach for every sport my girls played. I started in the parish league but quickly moved to SBMSA where I coached basketball and softball with dads I’m still friends with today. When the girls got older, they needed more specialization, so I retired to the sideline. I volunteered with the HLS&R before the girls were born and have recently returned to the Rodeo as part of the Directions & Assistance Committee with a handful of my teammates from Rice. I’ve also joined SCORE Houston, benefitting small businesses and entrepreneurs in a mentorship format.
In my current role as General Manager for Sparkhound, my family and I volunteer through the Sparkhound Foundation. I’m proud to have helped organize its efforts to support small businesses during this pandemic by leveraging our digital consulting expertise to benefit businesses that have had to rapidly pivot from in-store commerce to curb-side pickup. Sparkhound developed a free app to help businesses coordinate Curbside Pickup and manage the contactless pick up requirements.
While I know Molly and the girls, our readers may not. Tell us about your family. I came to Houston to go to school in 1989, fell in love with an Aggie, graduated and made Houston home. My oldest daughter, Emily, turned 21 and is a junior at U of H studying Computer Information Systems. My youngest, Brianna, just completed her junior year at Memorial High School. Bri competes on a nationally ranked softball team, which has garnered her the opportunity to play in the SEC at Auburn University.
Last question – What does the perfect Father’s Day look like to you? A perfect Father’s Day is what I’ve done for years: get up at the crack of dawn cheering on one of my daughters on the softball diamond. We cap the day off back in the outdoor kitchen with a couple of ribeyes served family style. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
