This is my first Father’s Day without my stepfather—and the weight of that reality is hard to put into words. He wasn’t just a father figure; he was a builder of lives, of cities, of quiet legacies. As I reflect upon our Men’s Issue this month, I realize just how much he shaped the path I walk today in health, wellness and intentional living—even if I didn’t see it clearly at the time.

He was always in motion—running marathons, playing tennis, swinging a softball bat or bowling competitively on a national level. And when he wasn’t in motion recreationally, he was building. As a master bricklayer, there wasn’t a street we’d drive down where he wouldn’t point and say, “I helped build that.” Half of Richmond, quite literally, has his fingerprint on it.

He also made choices that were ahead of his time. A pescatarian since the early ‘80s, he taught me, simply through example, the value of discipline and consciousness about what we put into our bodies. He never smoked. He didn’t drink. He moved his body daily and lived with care. Looking back, I see now that he was modeling something profound: self-respect, consistency and wellness in action.

Yet, despite his clean lifestyle, he passed away from lung cancer—likely due to prolonged exposure to chemicals in the construction industry. It’s a sobering reminder that even the strongest among us are vulnerable to the environments we work and live in.

His legacy lives on, not just in the buildings he helped create, but in the way I now lead my life and in the lives of his grandchildren who carry his strength, spirit and quiet wisdom forward. As a publisher, herbalist and wellness advocate, I find myself drawing from the seeds he unknowingly planted in me decades ago.

Our June edition is dedicated to the men who lead with quiet strength, who care for themselves and others and who leave their mark, not with loud declarations, but with brick-by-brick consistency. I hope our magazine reminds you to honor the fathers and father figures in your life and to live each day with the same intention, vitality and love that my stepfather showed so effortlessly.

With deep gratitude,

Regina