JJ, just because a divorced parent isn't living with a child or in the same state or time zone doesn't mean that the parent "ceased to be a part of LG's daily life."
Oh, please!

2000 miles, or frankly 20 miles, makes a difference.
I didn't talk to my parents every day when I was in college, but neither did I simply "walk away" and never speak to them again. I just don't see how you can equate the the normal process of coming into adulthood, called separation and individuation in psychology, with the radical, very rare decision for a parent to simply terminate a relationship with his "child."
I don't. I do say they that there was a huge amount of separation, which is perfectly normal. People normally drift apart.
Clearly, RG's relationship with LG worked well enough for both of them to be in affectionate contact and for him to make it clear to his staff that her needs were a priority for him. My view is that family members who love each other do not need to see each other every day to be connected, part of the same family.
You are confusing "affectionate" with "close."
And of course I know that LG is not a minor; I am obviously using the term "child" to refer to "offspring." If anyone has a better term for "adult offspring," I will gladly defer.
Daughter, her actual status. Not "child."
You seem to see RG's disappearance as someone expected or justified because he was a divorced parent and spent less physical time with his daughter.
No, I see
separation, which was long term. RFG could very easily look at his daughter and think, she in an independent adult, who doesn't need me to put food on the table, or change her diaper. It isn't a suggestion that he doesn't love her, nor that he wished to provide for her.
I don't think it matters whether he saw her for alternate weekends or just during vacations or for only a few days per year. He was still her father, and at any age for a parent to cut off contact would be painful for the "offspring." We will have to agree to disagree because I just don't see a "fairly decent" or "adequate" or emotionally mature father not knowing he would cause lots and lots of pain.
An emotionally mature father who realized his daughter is an intelligent, emotionally mature, and educated
adult may.
The fact that
you don't like it really has no bearing on it.
Go down to my signature. It says, "What happened to Ray Gricar?" If the answer is, "He left voluntarily," I can live with him making that choice. It was his choice, and no one else's. I just want to know it was his.
If he walked, why can't you respect that choice?