Who is Father from The End of the World as We Know It: Scenes from a Life and what is their importance?

Goolrick's father, who remains unnamed in the book, is the perpetrator of the molestation against Goolrick. When Goolrick was four, his father, in a drunken moment, molested him while they slept in the same bed following a party. Father was a severe alcoholic and probably was abusive to Goolrick's mother, as well. Goolrick's father came from an alcoholic family, where his own father was often drunk and abusive. A professor at a local college, Goolrick's father was well educated, but also found it necessary to pay attention to what others thought. Much of what he did day to day at the frequent neighborhood parties was influenced by those around him. As his drinking progressed, and after the death of his wife, Father became increasingly home-bound, venturing out only for groceries and fast food. Goolrick continued to care for his father, although he now admits he hated him.