LIers describe greatest lesson from their dads

Some smiled brightly. Some got misty-eyed. Others went quiet and thoughtful.

On this Father's Day, Long Islanders asked for the greatest lesson their dads taught them drew from memories both long ago and not so distant. Whether grown to adulthood or children still, they spoke eagerly of their fathers, sharing tales of guidance, friendship, generosity and love.

Jennifer McEntire, 32, formerly of East Northport but now of Frederick, Md., food scientist

Father: Edmond Cleveland, 60, of East Northport, a retired oil truck driver

"I cut, you choose. It ensures fairness. Like in a piece of cake - one person cuts and the other person chooses."

Michael Levy, 33, of East Northport, superintendent of the Garden City Park School District

Father: Michael Levy, 62, of New Hyde Park, a systems analyst for Scholastic Books

"Always put your kids and your family before anything else, because there's nothing more important in your life than your children."

Patrick Sandoval, 38, of East Northport, an IT professional at SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Father: Renato Sandoval, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 69, formerly of Batangas, Philippines

"If you're going to do something, do it right and give your all to whatever it is. Don't go halfway . . . It's something that I'd want to pass along to my daughter and our next child."

Song Jun Park, 48, of Syosset, a banker for the Korean Exchange Bank

Father: Tae Sic Park, 76, of Taegu City, Korea, a retired salesman

"Be happy in life and to do the best in everything."

Stephanie Kostopoulos, 16, of Huntington Station, a student at Walt Whitman High School

Father: Dean Kostopoulos, 50, of Huntington Station, an engineer for BAE

"Sometimes you feel defeated, but my dad always encouraged me to follow my dreams no matter what. He even told me I could be president of the United States ever since I was little. It's far-fetched, but it's a dream I'm willing to chase. He tells me to never give up and persevere. Just be happy because happiness is key in life."

Aidan Lyons, 8, of Northport, a student at Dickinson Avenue School

Father: Daniel Lyons, 41, of Greenlawn, a lawyer for Westerman Ball Ederer Miller & Sharfstein Llp

"Don't spend your life saying woulda, coulda, shoulda."

Jack Beirne, 8, of East Northport, a student at Dickinson Avenue School

Father: Thomas Beirne, 44, of Blakeslee, Pa., a director of security for Camelback Mountain

"Don't do a belly flop into the pool. It hurts."

Chenelle Bright, 29, of Rosedale, Queens

Stepfather: Ossie Champagnie, 55, a plumber

"Trust in my instincts. He taught me to believe in a person's actions rather than their words."

Paul Brooks, 55, originally from Guyana, an entrepreneur retired from Wall Street

Father: Eustace Brooks, who passed away, was the head of marketing for a rice company in Guyana

"Self-motivation, discipline and to be true to yourself."