Riverdale's dads are the best - did you doubt it?

A father is the man who first steps between you and the dangers of the world. He is the one to pick you up and put you back on your feet, telling you to try again.

There is one element of fatherhood that can never change. The foundation of fatherhood must be love.

And from that love comes love in return. For Father’s Day, readers of The Riverdale Press have sent in their own testimonials to their fathers, illustrating their feelings in pictures and in words.

Since this was a contest and there are prizes to give away, four entries have been selected for standing out above the rest.

And the winners are...

Elias Gabriel, 9, $25 gift certificate to Brown’s Jewelers, 5670 Riverdale Ave., (718) 549-2730; A men’s classic Cross pen, Invitations Plus, 600 W. 246th St., (718) 548-3900; $50 savings bond, Country Bank, 583 W. 235th St. (718) 601-8300; 10 gift passes to the pool, Riverdale Neighborhood House, 5521 Mosholu Ave., (718) 549-8100; $30 toward any car service, Marty’s Auto Clinic, 3019 Tibbett Ave., (718) 601-8850.

Erin Zhao, 6, Free haircut at Eco Salon, 3262 Johnson Ave., (718) 548-4023; $20 toward any purchase at Nathan’s Kosher Meats, 570 W. 235th St., (718) 548-1723; $25 gift certificate to the Piper’s Kilt restaurant, 170 W. 231st St., (718) 548-9539; $50 gift certificate, Marilyn’s Diamond Collection, Inc., 3264 Johnson Ave., (718) 601- GOLD; One guest pass, Riverdale YM-YWHA, 5625 Arlington Ave., (718) 548-8200.

Judith Veder, 66, $30 gift certificate to Le Chic Salon & Spa, 587 W. 235th St., (718) 548-9090; $10 gift certificate to David Allen Bath Shop, 141 McLean Ave., (914) 963-5110; Bottle of champagne, Skyview Liquor, 5681 Riverdale Ave., (718) 601-8222; $20 gift certificate, Desai’s Pharmacy, 228 W. 238th St., (718) 543-0800; Free oil change, Mobile Gas Station, 6161 Broadway, (718) 432-6821.

Paulino Jellane, $25 gift certificate, The Riverdale Diner, 3657 Kingsbridge Ave., (718) 884-8100; One guest pass, Riverdale YM-YWHA , 5625 Arlington Ave., (718) 548-8200; Free haircut, Rumors Haircutters, 3545 Riverdale Ave., (718) 543-8050; Oil change and filter, Van Dale Sunoco, 5832 Broadway, (718) 548-9592; $15 gift certificate, Windy Farm Nursery, 330 McLean Ave., (914) 659-6459.

It is that time again — time to enter the father of the year contest — lucky me!

Dad, now 93, is still on his own living in the Amalgamated houses. His knees have not gotten any better, but not worse. He has had some skin cancers, but is ok. His plants are still alive, the house clean, food is in the fridge. The pictures of all of us, his family, still line the empty furniture surfaces.

And he still calls me and my two sisters “DOLL”. And I still call him “DADDY”.

Recently dad remembered a name from his past, when he was 16 and worked in a drug store on the Lower East Side, answering one phone servicing a neighborhood . He would run to an apartment and let the people know there was a call for them. Now dad carries a cell phone. He also remembered the town in Poland where our grandmother lived, Lumzeigabruner(?).

And when I told him I had sung a song to my 3 1/2 year old California granddaughter that he had sung to me but I forgot the second stanza, he immediately sang it..”time to go to sleep now, little girls you’ve had a busy day...”. And we laughed at another “Mares eat oats...” and had a good time digging up other memorable treasures.

This is a Father’s Day! How lucky I am to celebrate 2009 with Morris (Moishe) Schneider, “the father of the year.”

— Judith Veder, age 66

This is part of the June 18, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.