Ten Days

Have passed. It is difficult to lose a loved one, debilitating. A man of only thirty-nine years with a good wife and children aged ten and four. This after a twelve year struggle against ALS.
I declined to eulogize at my brother's services, feared total collapse. Many eulogies are speeches on how the speaker feels about death. Not this time, all focused on the accomplishments of the man.

• A husband and partner to a wife, both strong enough to endure a desperate future. Together they attacked life as if they were hungry adventurers.
• A son who made his parents proud.
• An athlete, runner on a state championship track team.
• The most ardent Red Sox fan, sports fan for that matter.
• A friend who maintained strong contacts with his entire high school cadre. These friends came to Massachusetts from Florida, California, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
• A father to a beautiful, considerate daughter.
• A father to a willful, intelligent boy.
• A brother who acted as the centering touchstone for all his siblings.
• An uncle who doted on six nephews and nieces.
• A son in law who earned his wife's parents love and respect.
• A patient who would not take any shit off incompetent nurses and inconsiderate doctors.
• A partner to Doctor Brown in his ALS research.
• A co-worker that built relationships based on competence and and unswerving confidence in being right.
• A student that graduated from Northeastern University.
• Baptized.

I am so proud of you Bruce.