Matt Houlihan had a heartwarming idea that involved his siblings, Brian Houlihan and Kelsey Houlihan, waking up early to meet at their parents’ home. Their plan was to take one last carpool ride with their dad, reminiscing about the times they used to do so as children. The siblings decided to revisit the rituals they had developed during their school commutes with their dad. Reflecting on the memories spent in the car, Matt Houlihan wanted to pay tribute to those moments. After organizing the surprise logistics, including arranging for their own children’s transportation to school, the siblings, along with their mom Stephanie Houlihan, successfully executed the surprise. They arrived at the family home at 6 a.m. with backpacks, ready for a trip down memory lane. They created a playlist with songs they used to listen to while carpooling, with Outkast’s “Hey Ya” being a favorite from their high school days. The siblings made a stop at their beloved bagel shop before heading to school and parking in their usual spot. Tim Houlihan, the dad, would always send them off with a quote from “The Princess Bride,” a tradition they continued on his final workday. After 41 years at Saint Francis High School, Tim retired, having held various roles at the school. The siblings, capturing the emotional day on video, shared it on TikTok, celebrating their dad’s remarkable career and the relationships he had built over the years.
His brother and sister adored celebrating their father, whom they always regarded as a “servant leader.” “He always just wants to help everyone around him,” he said, noting that his father would express gratitude to his coworkers annually by delivering meals to the school security guards on duty during holiday night shifts. For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle. He has long admired both of his parents for their compassion towards others. This was evident as the school community bid farewell to his father on his retirement day, expressing their gratitude for his impactful presence. Some were even moved to tears as they shared how much he had influenced them. Matt Houlihan now cherishes the memories of those special car rides with his father, especially now that he is a parent to two young girls.
“Being a parent and having the opportunity to take your children to school or to their sporting events, you know, those are the moments where so many meaningful conversations happened during those car rides because, as children, we sometimes overlook the value of spending time with our parents,” Matt reflected. Tim Houlihan embarked on his retirement journey with his children by his side, just as they had done when they were younger.
While Tim may no longer use “The Princess Bride” quote with his kids, his youngest son Matt is carrying on that tradition with his own daughters. “I always tell them, ‘Have fun storming the castle,’ and then I drop them off at school, so that the tradition lives on,” Matt shared.
