About my father pictures

Today, on Father’s Day, I write about three father figures who are not only examples of fatherhood but also businessmen, entrepreneurs, visionaries, and ethical, modest, honest professionals with remarkable intelligence: my father, my grandfather Hamilton, and my uncle Edu.

My Father

My father is the most intelligent man I have ever met. Part of this perception may come from the bias of a blood relationship, but much of it comes from his maturity and keen observation.

He came from a privileged family for his generation. The son of a public servant, my grandfather Zito, and a determined woman, my grandmother Deja, all six children born in the 1950s and 1960s had access to higher education.

My father’s story is closely intertwined with my mother’s. They started dating as teenagers, around the age of 15. My father lived in Campinas/SP, and my mother in Ituiutaba/MG. Whenever he could leave the Cadet School, Mauricio would travel to the interior of Minas, sometimes even by train, to visit Dona Regina. Contrary to my grandmother’s preferences, my father chose to study civil engineering in Uberlândia/MG to be near his girlfriend, who studied in Uberaba/MG. After college, they married and were happy together.

Soon after their marriage, during the Collor government, they returned to Ituiutaba/MG, already with my older sister and me on the way. My father immersed himself in agricultural life, even though he had no prior familiarity with it, following his father-in-law’s path and making a living in difficult political times.

Under my grandfather Hamilton’s guidance, he quickly learned about the rural world. He soon identified a previously nonexistent opportunity in the city: cattle auctions, which became his focus for 15 years, alongside other agricultural activities. Despite the hard work, my father was always a technology enthusiast: even at 65, he owns the latest iPhone, an Apple Watch, and used to take English lessons with AirPods.

At the auctions, my sister and I had our first “job.” Between 1995 and 1997, we earned R$2.50 for registering cattle lot prices and buyers in computers, printing duplicates, and collecting signatures. It was cutting-edge technology for the time. My father allowed us this experience, even though we earned far less than the other employees.

When an MBA was still distant and expensive, my father returned to university and completed an MBA in Agribusiness. He never settled for the obvious, and I believe I inherited this restlessness from him.

Around 2004-2005, Ituiutaba/MG was heavily impacted by sugarcane mills, reducing agricultural activity. With three children, my father had to reinvent himself. He first entered dairy farming and, in parallel, resumed his engineering career.

He became one of Nestlé’s largest milk producers, producing over 2,000 liters a day until 2011, and later rode the real estate wave triggered by the establishment of UFU, building 100 apartments in a new neighborhood, as well as health posts, public housing, squares, and hospitals. During the COVID pandemic, we worked together until 2023.

In 2011, he ended dairy production with an auction to liquidate the herd. His life in Ituiutaba began for love of my mother, Dona Regina, and his devotion is remarkable.

My father has had more victories than defeats. A pioneer in auctions, dairy farming, and real estate, he always knew when to enter and exit each business. Today, he continues working in his construction company, using technology, driving his Dodge Ram, and discussing investment funds with enviable knowledge.

My Grandfather Hamilton

Grandpa Hamilton, a simple man with ten siblings, never finished elementary school—a personal choice, even though several of his brothers pursued education. His most remarkable trait was his devotion to work. He started with very little and multiplied his assets many times over.

Hamilton and Grandma Marizinha were an unbeatable team: he was the CEO, she was the CFO. They married young, lived simply, and worked tirelessly, maintaining discretion and principled living.

I had the privilege of witnessing their rural life, observing negotiations, tractors, vaccinations, and the entire farm operation. In 2019-2020, during COVID, when both were isolated, I truly dove into my grandfather’s business, learning about rural operations, suppliers, and negotiations.

The respect and credibility the name “Seu Hamilton” commanded were incredible. Mechanics, suppliers—everyone spoke of him with admiration. Grandpa was also devoted to Grandma Marizinha: until her passing, they would sit hand in hand, showing a love that lasted over 70 years.

Hamilton was a family-oriented, charitable, sensitive, and extremely altruistic man.

Uncle Edu

Uncle Edu, my father’s older brother, has been like a second father to me. We grew especially close when I moved to São Paulo, as much of my father’s family lived in Campinas.

An accomplished engineer, he has been an inspiration in the complex corporate world. His advice has always been invaluable, even when I didn’t always follow it. Edu and his wife Mônica are refined, kind, and devoted to family. His dedication to his son Gu is inspiring and reinforces the Bernal family’s gift for fatherhood.

Conclusion

For many, this text may seem irrelevant. For me, it is the result of introspection. Humbly, I am both very similar to and very different from the father figures I grew up with. I am the product of what I observed and experienced. Many times, I chose different paths, which may explain why our perspectives differ—not better or worse, just different, and perhaps complementary.

Florianópoli/SC/BR, August 11th 2024