My Father The Inventor

My dad was a jock. Actually, that’s an understatement. Big “Saf” was a pitcher who earned a college scholarship from the Cincinnati Reds, as well as an additional one for his basketball skills.

He attended spring training with the Reds for all four years of college. Unfortunately, he threw out his shoulder in his senior year and his professional baseball career ended before it could start. So, he studied for a master’s degree in education, with a focus on special needs. His goal was to help everyone find their way to good health and fitness. Given his background, it was no surprise that he became a physical education teacher. He taught in some tough environments, including a juvenile detention center, and ended up at large public high school in Queens, NY. My favorite days were snow days, when I got to go to school with my dad and shoot baskets between classes. Perhaps the best part was having all the high school kids fuss over me, where I became Little Saf, son of their favorite teacher. It never occurred to me that very few of my dad’s students looked like me. He always treated everyone the same and advocated that a good athlete should have humility. He practiced what he preached and never mentioned being recruited by multiple professional baseball teams while in college. (We wouldn’t have ever know if it weren’t for stumbling upon envelops with insignias from the Dodgers, Yankees, Giants, A’s, White Sox, etc. after his death.) Saf was beloved by his students, written up in the school paper as one of the greatest teachers of all times. I couldn’t agree more!

Then as now, making ends meet as a public-school teacher wasn’t easy. Recently, my mom told me that, when I was little, February was her least favorite month. At first, I thought it was due to the cold weather, but she quickly corrected me. You see, she also taught in public school and shared that February was the toughest month because there were less days to make the rent! I don’t remember exactly when, but at some point, my dad started tinkering in the basement, late at night, working on inventions that would help kids be more active and engaged in sports. He invented a ball that wobbled when thrown, to help with coordination, and called it the Whoops Ball. It was one of many patents he held for his inventions. I lost my dad to cancer but his legacy lives on in his children and grandchildren, as well as an array of fitness equipment and consumer products he invented for healthier lifestyles. One of the things he ingrained in me from an early age was that if I did my best, he’d be proud, regardless of the outcome. Also, that sports are about having fun. He was an advocate for staying fit and healthy, where winning was a distant second consideration to good sportsmanship. I was very lucky to have such an amazing role model.

This site, is dedicated to the memory of Big Saf who, to me and many of his students, was larger-than-life. It’s my opportunity to follow in his footsteps by developing an invention to help make yoga (and other fitness practices) safer, more accessible and, importantly, even more fun! It’s also a chance to share stories of everyday people overcoming obstacles on the path of personal improvement, something we all have in common. Please enjoy the posts to follow and, if you're willing, I'd love to hear your stories. Also, please keep an eye out for Warrior Blocks — the evolution of the yoga block — coming soon to the world. I hope my dad would be proud…