Tag Archives: Peg Gignoux

My Hero Story

In LA, we created books about our heroes with Peg Gignoux out of paper, paint, and imagination! Here’s my hero story! Enjoy!

My Hero

Timothy John Cunneen


My hero is one of the few people I can trust with all of my personal information. He’s always there for me when I need him. Give up? My hero is my dad. His name is Tim Cunneen. He is 44 years old and was born on October 14, 1966. Dad was born in Putnam, Connecticut but currently lives in Durham, North Carolina. Dad lives with his wife, Mary Anne and his two daughters, my sister Katie and me. We have a dog named Jackson. My dad now works at Smith Breeden. Read on to find out why this man is my hero.

My dad lived in Danielson, Connecticut all of his life. The hospital in Putnam was the closest hospital to my dad. He went to public school and had to walk over this huge hill to get there each day. For pets, my dad and his sisters had guinea pigs, dogs, and cats. Here’s a funny story about my Aunt Sandy, who is my dad’s sister. My aunt hugged her guinea pig so hard, she killed it! When my dad was a kid he liked to play basketball, soccer, and baseball. His favorite food was cheese sandwiches and he hated liver, as he has all of his life.

My dad moved to a different house in the same town when he was 12. In his free time my dad focused on basketball because he played on the school team. His favorite food was lobster and least favorite food…. still liver! Every Friday during the winter, my dad and his dad went over to their neighbor’s house to swim in his indoor pool. My dad got his first car when he was sixteen. It was a 1966 yellow Pontiac Catalina Convertible. My dad met my mom at work and they fell in love.

One reason that my dad is a hero to me is that he’s generous. We both love Duke and have season tickets to the Men’s Basketball games. He is generous with his money because those tickets are pretty expensive, especially when you add the food and sometimes a milkshake! Also, my dad is generous with his time. Most basketball games take about two hours and there’s still commute time. He also spends time with me during the weekends and the weekdays. Also, my dad always finds time for me. Even if he has something planned, he’ll still hang out with me. And that’s why my dad is the most unselfish person I know.

My dad is a hero because he’s encouraging. He always wants me to do my best in school and sports. When I played soccer, he was always at my games. Now, at swim meets, my dad gives me a big hug when I drop time. When my report card comes, he first asks me if I’ve tried my hardest. If I tell him yes, then he isn’t mad if I get bad grades. When I do get good grades, he tells me he’s very proud of me and to keep up the good work. My dad likes to encourage me and that means a lot to me.


My dad is a hero because he’s caring. If someone is being rude to me, he’ll stop and listen. When I’m having a bad day, he’ll give me some space and tell me to go outside and chill or to calm down first and then he’ll talk to me. After our talks,  I always feel much better. When I’m hurt, he’ll give me a hand and help me back up. That’s how my dad shows me he cares.

My dad has had a huge impact on my life. He’s taught me to be kind and to take what life gives me and twist it until I’m satisfied. My dad has also taught me to obey rules and never, ever cheer for UNC! We’re Blue Devils for life. So, that’s why my dad is my hero. He has taught me so much and he is encouraging, caring, and generous. One day, I hope to grow up to be just like him.

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My Hero Story

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My Hero

Robert DeVries

I have chosen a hero who has given so much to the world, and has also given a lot to me. He is somebody who inspires me, and somebody who I want to be like when I grow up. My hero’s name is Robert DeVries. He is currently 73 years old, and he was born on May 12, 1936. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He worked as a hospital administrator for many years before becoming a philanthropist, which is somebody who gives money to other people without expecting anything for themselves. Currently, he is living in Battle Creek, Michigan, with his wife, Eleanor DeVries. He has four children, two boys and two girls. His oldest daughter, Susan Concannon, is my mother, making him my grandfather.

When my hero was asked about his childhood, his first response was that it was very difficult. His mother died when he was seven years old, and because his father was always working and couldn’t take care of him, he had to live with an aunt until he was almost ten. Money was very tight, and they barely had enough for everyday expenses. He had to change schools almost every year. Things started to straighten out once his father remarried a few years later. In completing high school, he met with a guidance counselor who believed that he definitely had the potential to go to college, and helped to get him into a university. He was one of the first people in his family to go to college.

I believe that my hero has many, many traits that make him heroic. First and foremost, is his generosity. He has spent most of his entire life giving to others, even though there were numerous times when he didn’t really have much to give. He gave money to create and design many art galleries and gardens throughout the state of Michigan, and he has set up scholarships for students attend several nearby universities. He created an organization that brings art into schools. I could list many more things that he has done, but, maybe most importantly to me, is the time that he gives to his family. I know that he is a very busy person, and yet he is always there to talk to us when we call, and we get calls from him frequently. We don’t get to visit his house nearly as much as I would like to, but when we do go, he is always there with us. When I think of how much he has given to others, it inspires me to do the same.

The second most important trait that makes my grandfather a hero, is his persistence. I know that his childhood was not easy, but he has never given up. He has always worked hard to achieve his goals, and when he succeeds in doing them, he works to create new goals. Even if you are extremely talented, and have the ability to do great things, you can’t accomplish those things if you don’t have persistence. He was willing to try something again if it didn’t work the first time. My grandfather would not be where he is today if not for his persistence.

The third trait that I find honorable about my hero are all of his many achievements. I am so proud when I think of all of the things that he has done. Not only was he the administrator of a hospital at a very young age, but he was also the youngest person to be in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He was one of the first people to introduce the idea of hospice, which is special treatment for people in the final days of their life. Hospice offers Wholistic Healthcare, which is a type of medical practice that focuses on the whole entire body. My grandfather was the first to push the hospice idea into the United States, and changed medical education across the state. My hero is a very accomplished man and I will always admire him for that.

I think that my hero’s greatest achievement is being the loving and funny father, and grandfather that he is today. I know that I have told you all about my hero’s amazing accomplishments, however, the part of him that is most important to me is the part that he shares with his family. The memories and silly things that he does with us when we see him are most meaningful to me. When we play badminton, somehow the birdies always seem to end up on the roof, and when we can convince him to play board games with us, we always have a lot of fun. His squirrel magic tricks, and his love of eating dinner on the patio are all the pieces of his personality that he shares with us. Even though he has done many things that have affected a lot of people, the things that have affected me the most are the time that he spends with his family, and the memories we make together.

My Hero Story

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My Hero Josephine Forkner

My hero is my Josephine Forkner or as I like to call her, my Granny. My Granny is my hero because she is the most free spirited and most creative person I know. My Granny was born in Moore County, NC on November 7, 1933. My Granny lives by herself, so she loves to keep me during the weekends and summer, along with my dog, Teddy. My Granny’s maiden name is Garner. Her full name is Josephine Clareess Garner Forkner.

My Granny’s when she was young, loved to play basketball, softball, and volleyball. She told me that she enjoyed those sports because her friends would play them with her after school or when ever they were bored. Another activity that they did to pass the time was to walk on stilts. My Granny had stilts made from wood that her older brother, Danielee made for her. The stilts were ten feet height. My Granny told me that her childhood life was very enjoyable. She said that it was good because not all of the children were at home at the same time. My Granny has eight siblings. Her siblings names are, (brothers) Douglas Garner, Jessie Garner, Danielle Garner, (sisters) Dorthea Garner, Mary Garner, Clara Garner, Velma Garner and Sallyann Garner. My Granny was the second to the last child in her family.

I chose my Granny as my hero because of her perseverance I think that she shows her perseverance because she has been through so much like, a car accident, Cancer, her close brother going to the service when she was young, her husband passing away and many more. My Granny She has had perseverance though it all. My Granny told me that if she didn’t persevere and ask the lord to help her through everything that she would not have made it through everything that she has.

Another trait that fits my Granny would be faith. My Granny has always had faith in everything that she has done. She is a strong Christian woman and she has impacted my life inthat way also. My Granny goes to church every Sunday and is very religious My Granny has impacted my life because she has effected the way I look at my life. Sheis a very good role model because she usually does the right thing.

My Granny has made me a person that greatly appreciates my life just the way it is. Yes, there are things that I would love to change about my life but my Granny tells me accept my life the way it is because there are some people that don’t have a house, parents or there own big room. I am very thankful that I have my Granny in my life.