Father's Day and families have a special meaning for John Croce.

It was his father who introduced him to the career that he loves. It is his wife and daughter who understand the long hours he works and the holidays he sometimes has to miss.

As the Food & Beverage Director for Spring Valley Golf Club, Croce works 60 to 70 hours a week, overseeing food operations that range from the beverage cart on the golf course, to the casual Spring Valley Grill to the fine dining at Elbert's restaurant.

He is often working on holidays, such as Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day, so his wife, Stacey, and 15-year-old daughter, Caitlin, celebrate at different times.

"Working long hours and holidays goes with the territory," he said. "My wife makes my life easy because she is so understanding and she know that I love what I do."

Croce said he first got into the food business when he was 16. That summer, his dad encouraged him to work at his uncle's catering hall in New York. His dad and cousins worked there as well.

"It was a family affair. It's definitely in my blood," he said, noting that it wasn't the most pleasant beginning of a career. "My initiation in the food business was peeling a 50 pound bag of onions and crying my eyes out for an entire day.

"Now, I've worked every position you can think of for over 30 years, and I don't think I'll ever do anything else."

And as he prepares for the special Father's Day brunch at Elbert's on June 18, he thinks fondly of his road to Spring Valley Golf Club.

Again, it was his dad that inspired him to come to Colorado. He said his dad, who was stationed at Ft. Carson during the Korean War, often talked about the beauty of Colorado.

While he has lived in Colorado since 1981, working at a golf club is a new experience for Croce, who has been at Spring Valley for about 2 1/2 years.

But the bottom line is the same: "My idea is to take care of people and make sure they have a good time."

So you can be sure Croce will be taking care of dads and their families when they come to Father's Day brunch, enjoying such "guy" menu items as dad's favorite potato salad, smoked sausage and cheese, carved prime rib and grilled pork chops with dirty mashed potatoes.

The brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 at Elbert's, located at Spring Valley Golf Club, 42350 County Road 17-21 in Elizabeth - about eight miles east of Parker. Reservations are recommended. For more information or to make a reservation, call 303-646-4240 ext. 24.