Friday, July 17, 2009
My family and I are cousins and friends of Robert. We spent our holidays and special family celebrations together. His passing leaves an empty place at our tables that can never be filled. My sons, who have known him since childhood expressed startled dismay and sadness when hearing that he died. Robert’s mother told me that he almost died several times before he was five years old because of his asthma. As a child, he had to leave home to attend a school in Arizona for the same reason, leaving family and friends behind. His rheumatoid arthritis plagued him and he lived in constant pain in recent years. But this did not seem to affect his optimistic attitude toward life. He was enjoying his retirement. Robert had a big hearty laugh and a sense of humor that was often unexpected. He was a gentle man and quietly observant of life around him. These observations turned into engaging stories about his work, his neighbors and his church. He especially loved talking about his nieces, Katherine and Jennifer. Robert had many skills that surprised us and was handy man to Kay and Marty whom he loved. In turn, Robert told me that he asked Marty and Kay for advice on various subjects. When he was with us, Robert always expressed a zest for life. He enjoyed eating a good meal, drinking a good glass of wine and engaging in lively conversation. He excelled at viewing the inconsistencies of life, taking a complicated issue and reducing it to a very simple one within minutes. Robert was generous to our children and grandchildren. I do remember one Christmas, Robert brought the most sought after gift for a game that we played, a bottle of Crown Royal. Robert took flying lessons a few years ago and passed the course. He once received a ticket for driving too slow. He could laugh at himself and those are the stories that I particularly enjoyed. My family and I are sorry for Marty, Kay, Katherine and Jennifer’s loss and for our own.
