''I'm a wood splitting-type guy. But sometimes macho men like myself, we must understand that different people have different interests, and we must be accommodative. And fathers are going to have to learn there are things we don't control in other people.... Fathers in my situation don't need to punish themselves. Zach was so much a part of this family.''
From a brief profile of the relationship between Mike Rayman and his son, Zachary, 29, who died two weeks ago from complications resulting after a fall. Mike Rayman is described as a religious, ultra-conservative outdoorsman and athlete who thought he could talk his son out of being gay. But says he learned to be accepting, not judgemental, and says he had the opportunity to talk with Zachary's gay friends at the hospital, and also consulted with his survivng partner to plan services. (IndyStar.com)
