That's such a sad story.

One thing about a 9 to 5 job, though, it doesn't guarantee much these days. At least not in the US. You can be let go at any time for any reason, or no reason, without any severance pay. And instead of a defined benefit pension, you're lucky to have a defined contribution 401k plan, where all the investment risk is on you, the employee.

Still, it's better than what you describe your dad did.