by Dennis Augustine
The greatest gifts fathers leave behind are often the stories attached to the things they treasured.”
As I was looking through some of my late father Frank Augustine’s keepsakes, I came across this signed photograph of Bruce Willis from Die Hard with a Vengeance.
The inscription reads: “Frank — Be Cool! Bruce Willis.”
What makes this photo special isn’t the celebrity autograph—it’s the story behind it.
Back in the 1990s, this gift was made possible through my brother-in-law, Joe McAllister of Rutherford, New Jersey. Joe and Bruce were college roommates at Montclair State University before either knew where life would take them. Years later, Joe moved to Idaho with my sister Josie and their family, where he managed several of Bruce’s companies, including The Mint and Dan-o-Mite Lounge.
During one of my parents’ visits, Bruce graciously signed this photo personally for my dad.
Dad proudly displayed it for years—not because it was from a movie star, but because it represented friendship, family, and an unexpected act of kindness. Every time I see it, I think of my father and smile.
Happy Father’s Day in Heaven, Dad. You’ll always be “cool” to me.
