DADS WHO ROCK

Luke Llodra sums up his dad in one word: "cool."

Age: 39
Dad of: Jacob, 10 and Luke, 8
Spouse: Grace
Occupation: Co-owner of New Harbor Financial Group, an Investment Management & Financial Planning Firm in Leominster
Hometown: Chicopee

"Now we're cooking…"

According to 10-year-old Jacob Llodra, his "fun and energetic" dad is notorious for using this phrase during their many family adventures.

"He says it when we're on the ski lift together," explains Jacob.

And on this Sunday morning, John Llodra is literally "cooking"; this time, it's homemade blueberry pancakes. He calls it a lazy Sunday morning, but there's nothing lazy about John, who will never resist doing something fun with his family.

The Llodras, still on a high from their recent business/family trip to Maui, share stories of amazing scenery and fun activities (including snorkeling, a helicopter tour and swimming in waterfalls). While the trip was unforgettable, what was most important, says John, was that the family had lots of unstructured time just to focus on each other. He means it.

"I never thought as a parent that I'd truly consider my sons my best friends".

"After travelling the entire day on the Road to Hana [a 50-mile scenic road in Hawaii]," says his wife, Grace, "he thought nothing of waking up at 3 a.m. to see the sunrise on Mt. Haleakala with Jacob. That's John."

Whether it's BMX racing, fishing, hiking, swimming…family is first. In fact, when John recently purchased tickets for the Bruce Springsteen concert in Boston, he was sure to get four tickets to include his sons.

This super-active dad also gives back to his community: completing the Pan Mass Challenge two times while raising money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, running the Boston Marathon three times (one of which was to raise funds for Dana Farber), and running the Maine Marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team-in-Training. He also serves on The Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity in North Central Mass, is the Treasurer and on the Steering Committee for the Groton- Dunstable Alliance for Youth and coaches his sons' lacrosse and soccer teams.

Luke Llodra, 8, Jacob Llodra, 10, and John Llodra of Groton.

"If only I had more time…" he laments. And he's so sincere.

John often starts his day as an adventure, riding his bike to work from Groton to Leominster. His day typically ends with a glass of red wine and staying up late with guitar or book in hand.

While John is a successful businessman and conscientious homeowner, he is at heart, the quintessential family man. When it comes down to it, says Grace, "The lawn is just not important in life. He'll choose quality time and fun with the boys over the lawn."

"And drive his wife crazy…" she adds with a laugh.

Joking aside, Grace says, "I really feel grateful all of the time for John. I always think of how hard he works and how he makes things possible for his family. He gets involved. He is very devoted."

Take 15 with John

 

1. Best part of your day: It doesn't happen every day, but the best part of my day is when I witness one or both of my sons awakening in their beds from a good night's rest. They usually wake up with a wonder and excitement in their eyes that says: 'Life is good! I can't wait to start another fun day!'

2. Three words to describe your family: Fortunate, fun-loving and busy!

3. I never thought as a parent that: I'd truly consider my sons my best friends

4. Raising family in Massachusetts is great because: We live in an area rich in history and culture, we have great schools, we have four distinct seasons to look forward to, and we are within a short drive of the ocean, mountains, and big city.

5. Our family loves: Biking on the Nashua River Rail Trail right in our back yard, exploring the many conservation lands in our hometown Groton, Kimball Farm in Westford, museums/aquarium in Boston, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Newburyport, Wingaersheek Beach, canoeing on the Nashua River

6. Favorite restaurant to eat with the kids: Filho's Cucina in Groton and Border Café in Cambridge

7. My kids taught me: The best things in life are free.

8. There's no such thing as: Having too much fun.

9. Current family obsessions: Geocaching, getting ready to take our new (used) boat out for a family fishing trip, mountain biking, metal detecting, lacrosse, sleeping in past 7 a.m.

10. Tell us about an inspiring parent you know: My own parents. They raised me and my four siblings solely on my dad's teacher's salary. Even though we rarely went out for dinner (a night out at Burger King was a major treat) and never went on luxurious vacations (we went tent camping on Cape Cod one week every summer), I grew up feeling we were wealthy and never wanted for more. I can now appreciate how much effort they had to have expended raising us, and they're still every bit as engaged as parents and grandparents today.

11. Best things about the town where you are raising your children (Groton, Massachusetts): Great schools with caring staff, parental/community enthusiasm and volunteerism, colonial charm, and lots of conservation land with beautiful scenes in which to escape, bond, and commune with nature

12. How would you like to celebrate Father's Day? Going on a vigorous mountain bike ride with my riding buddies before my family wakes up, and then relaxing by the pool with the family with some great music playing and some good food grilled to perfection on the BBQ

13. What do you remember about your own Dad this Father's Day? How he was always present in my life. He was a teacher, and instead of seeking parttime work during the summer months like many of his peers, he took the opportunity to spend this time with us kids (for example, taking us fishing or to the local public pool). He also set a good example of making less with more (for example, he did most of the remodeling/expansion work on our modest home himself, and he often used this as an opportunity to teach me carpentry or other handy skills).

14. What summer plans does your family have? Enjoying our pool, family mountain biking trips in around our hometown, fishing/boating, camping in Acadia National Park in Maine, seeing James Taylor at Tanglewood, gathering with family at my sister's beach house in Rhode Island, serendipitous day trips to the beach, and taking a family trip to my alma mater Cornell University and exploring the many gorges/waterfalls on and near campus

15. What you hope your children will remember about you when they get older? that they were always my highest priority.

Do you know an inspiring mom or dad? E-mail editor@baystateparent.com.