Outgoing. Oddball. Old soul. And above all supportive.

These are the words Maggie, 14, and Emily, 16, use to describe their father Kelly Toombs.

“He always tries to help,” said Maggie. “And gives us advice.”

From sailing to scholastics to sports and theater, Kelly has one priority for his family: stay busy.

“Never give them a reason to be bored,” he said.

Kelly, an avid sailor, started his girls on the water early when the kids were just one and three. While Maggie took to sailing as one of her main passions, Emily stayed on land playing sports like basketball, volleyball and now golf.

Their main description of their father is that he is supportive whether it comes to attending games or coaching teams.

“Both of our parents are very supportive,” said Maggie about Kelly and her mother Kimberly Toombs.

As a coach, Maggie said he provided a new perspective to the game.

Kelly, on the other hand, described – with a laugh – his coaching philosophy as repetitive.

In addition to athletics, the Toombs have brought their talents to the stage.

This year Kelly performed in two different shows with his daughters: “Across the Universe” at Orcas Center and “PlayFest” at the Grange.

“It was fun. They had their own experience,” said Kelly. “I thought it was a fantastic new experience.”

Father’s Day

For Father’s Day, Kelly will leave behind the theater and multiple sports and take some time for sailing.

Emily’s favorite Father’s Day memory was waking up at 3 a.m. to write a message on a poster board.

She then snuck into her parents’ bedroom to hang it up so it would be the first thing her dad saw in the morning.

The plan went awry when Kelly woke up to the sound of rustling paper and a message that was hung upside down in the dark.

Despite the midnight waking, Kelly has fond memories.

“That was awesome,” Kelly said.

Advice

Now that his girls are teenagers and will soon be leaving the house and heading out on their own adventures, Kelly reflects that time has flown by.

As for advice for others who are just starting out on their road to fatherhood, Kelly has this to say:

“Put everything into it. That has been my mission in life to be a father. Don’t lose sight of that. The primary goal is to raise them the best you can. Listen to them and love them.”