The Engineer was my father.

The Engineer was one of those men who created the 21st Century. We owe so much to men like him because they took their responsibilities seriously, and worked, and, continually refined their work, until they reached the age of 65, and, as was the custom of the day, handed everything they knew/learned/experienced to the next generation of engineers.

Imperfect, yes, but the Engineer and his colleagues believed in the system, because they understood the value of their work, and their contribution to the public. Their labor was largely invisible, rarely understood, seldom praised. But they required none of this: Good work, the job well done, offered all the satisfaction they needed. Along with their families.