Sperm Donor Father Ends His Anonymity (And You Won't Believe What He Is Doing Now)

NY Times ^ | 14 February 2007 | Amy Harmon

[shrinkermd]

...Mr. Harrison had been thinking about getting in touch since reading in an article in The New York Times 15 months ago that two teenagers whose mothers had used his sperm to conceive were looking for him. The headline, “Hello, I’m Your Sister, Our Father Is Donor 150,” made him choke on his coffee, said Mr. Harrison, who made $400 a month donating sperm under that number twice-weekly during the late 1980s.

...Once one of the sperm bank’s most-requested donors, with a profile that described him as 6 foot and blue-eyed with interests in philosophy, music and drama, Mr. Harrison, 50, lives with his four dogs in a recreational vehicle near the Venice section of Los Angeles.

“I make a meager living,” Mr. Harrison said, taking care of dogs and doing other odd jobs.

Still, he said he thought he could explain to the girls why he had taken an unconventional life-path. Their grandfather was an Ivy League-educated retired financial executive, he would tell them; their grandmother was a former volunteer president for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

[shrinkermd]

? Only in America!

[seemoAR]

I wonder when he will be taken to court so he can catch up on back child support.

[Ditter]

Oh dear! Dad lives in a van down by the river.

[steve8714]

steady diet of gub'mint cheese?

[listenhillary]

THAT was good!!!

[Liberty Valance]

"Oh dear! Dad lives in a van down by the river."

[SlowBoat407]

Mom, can I get a tattoo?

Ask your sperm donor, dear.

[XR7]

Ugh.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, at least the kids know that dad is good with his hands.

[ZinGirl]

their grandmother was a former volunteer president for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

that's the best he can offer? Oh, my. somebody is gonna have to pay for the counselling which is no doubt looming in their future.

[Steel Wolf]

A homeless guy in Venice Beach with a nice online profile? I'll bet you a shiny nickel that he's a hardcore weightlifter type. Believe it or not, there's a strain of homeless people that are that demographic. They spend what little money they have on gym memberships and "nutritional supplements", over the counter and otherwise. I'm sure he has a nice car, cleans up well, and is unfathomably narcissitic. He's also only marginally functional in the real world, and can't hold down a job more complicated than sperm donor.

Although in his case, he seems to have found his niche.

[Gorzaloon]

Years ago, the Lampoon had an article on "Saints who should have been", including this nominee, who could be adapted to such a cause.

[Jaxter]

50? I guess he's just too old to whack it now.

[stayathomemom]

...interests in philosophy, music and drama.

Sits around and thinks, listens to music on the radio, and watches old movies. (who knows what kind!)

Do the birth certificates say "donor #15"? What happens if two of his offspring, (from the sound of the article there could be a lot of them), fall in love and don't find out they're half siblings until they go in for their marriage license?

[zarf]

What a jerker.

[zarf]

can't hold down a job more complicated than sperm donor.

Frankly, if you got it, why would you want another gig?

[bondjamesbond]

Reminds me of a tornado down South... Somebody is about to lose a trailer!

[babble-on]

There's a picture of him at the link. He's no weightlifter, just a sort of aging hippie who looks like he's seen some hard days. The daughter is very cute though. It takes all kinds, and he doesn't seem like a violent or bad person, at least from what we're given in the story.

But, if I had gotten paid $400/wank in my 20's I'd be a millionaire.

[SIDENET]

Here's a picture of him and his daughter from the article.

[Steel Wolf]

I'm by no means player-hating. (Although I'm not entirely sure that term qualifies here) He's should really be awarded some kind of Bill Clinton commemorative "Close, but No Cigar" award for sexual prowress.