Who We Remember Johnny Sirpilla on his Triplets - A Day That Changed Everything
We ask each of our guests a simple yet profound question: "Whose life story from your own family would you most want to have documented on film?" and "How does your family's story shape your own personal and professional legacy?"
Today's guest: Johnny Sirpilla, Entrepreneur, Best Selling Author and Chief Encourager at Encourage and Chief Experience Officer at Wellspring Financial Advisors
Johnny's pick: His triplets Nicholas, Mary and Peter
Sound Bites
- “Their lives were so short, the only time we get to say their names is in remembrance. So I say them—Nicholas, Mary, and Peter—because that’s how I honor them. We don’t speak their names in daily life the way we do with our living kids, but saying their names keeps their spirit present.”
- "We don't get to pick and choose what happens in the past, but we do get to choose how we reflect on it. And we made an intentional decision—to be grateful. Grateful we were chosen to be their parents, even for a single day."
- "The significance of a life isn’t measured in years. My children lived for one day, but their impact has lasted 30 years—and will last forever. They taught me how to lead with compassion, how to listen with empathy, and how to love without limits."
Summary
In this profoundly moving episode of Who We Remember, Jamie Yuenger speaks with entrepreneur, author, and family champion Johnny Sirpilla about the brief but transformative lives of his triplets—Nicholas, Mary, and Peter—who were born and passed on the same day. With heart and clarity, Johnny reflects on how one day of parenthood reshaped his values, leadership, and legacy. He shares why he chose to document their funeral, the spiritual significance of saying their names, and how their memory has continued to shape his family and professional life 30 years on. This is a conversation about the sacredness of short lives, the healing force of intentional remembrance, and the quiet power of gratitude in the wake of loss.
About Johnny
Johnny Sirpilla is an entrepreneur, speaker, and the bestselling author of Life is Hard, But I’ll Be OK, a memoir about navigating grief, resilience, and the power of perspective. A former president of Camping World and now the founder of Encourage LLC, Johnny leads and invests across industries—from leadership development to healthcare innovation—while speaking nationally on emotional intelligence, legacy, and inner growth.
His story is deeply shaped by the loss of his first three children, Nicholas, Mary, and Peter—triplets who lived only one day—an experience that continues to inform his personal and professional life. Johnny lives with his wife Susan between Canton, Ohio and Naples, Florida, and is the proud father of three grown children.
Join Us
Visit us at storykeep.com/podcast to learn more about how StoryKeep is preserving family histories. Subscribe on your favorite platform to catch new episodes released bi-weekly, available in both audio and video formats.
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Credits
Produced by Jamie Yuenger and Piet Hurkmans. Our show’s musical intro and outro is taken from the track “Thursday” by the independent artist Nick Takénobu Ogawa. You can listen and support his music on bandcamp here