My Dear Brother Bob;
My memories of you are many and varied. Some are happy, some not so happy but the foremost ones are of a fiercely independent and fiercely loyal big brother.
I was just 11 years old and had for the first time, been given the responsibility of crossing guard on the corner of Frye and California. I was feeling pretty good about myself when the school bully, Rex Commerford happened by and proceeded to terrorize me to the point of tears. Despite the fact that Rex had been your nemesis for years and was twice your size, when you heard what Rex had done you boldly confronted him telling him that he might get away with tormenting you but you would not allow him to torment your baby sister. I have no idea what you would have done had Rex chosen to call your bluff but he didn’t and, he left me alone after that. I remember being so scared for you but so very proud! This is how I remember you. If you perceived that someone was threatening or putting you or someone you loved down, you were like a pit bull.
I also recall your love of music. I remember sitting in the back bedroom on Republic Street and in the basement on Ridgelawn for hours at a time listening to the Doobie Brothers, Santana, Deep Purple, the Moody Blues, Pink Floyd and many more. That love of music continued throughout your life as evidenced by the conversation I had with you on the Monday before you died. As I drove down University Street on the way to your house that night, “Smoke on the Water” came on the radio. For the life of me I could not recall who the band was. So when I got in the house I said to you, “who did Smoke on the Water?” You said, “Which version?” I had to show my musical ignorance and admit that I had no idea which version; I didn’t even know there was more than one version. You proceeded to set me straight explaining that someone had plagiarized the song without the permission of the author, Ritchie Blackmore who had then sued. I then said, “Who was the group, all I can think of is Black Sabbath but I know that is not right”. You gave me an absolutely horrified look and said; “Deep Purple” after which we shared a good laugh at my appalling lack of musical knowledge.
This my final memory of you; my big brother, protector and friend, is one I will carry with me for the rest of my life as it brings a smile to my face and eases the pain in my heart.
