Thanks all. He did live his life the way he wanted. Survived the Great Depression, was on WW2 - working n the the top secret radar, was a dance instructor with my mom at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, worked 22 years at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena. All very cool stuff. I wish I could tell him that now.
Not selling the house, paid for in Orange County, Calif - less than 10 miles from the school I am going to go got my doctorate, I'd be insane to think about it. He was very conservative- and it worked for him, grew up poor, died probably a miillionaire. Well done Dad. (I wish I did things half as well.)