Archive for the ‘Death and Dying’ Category
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A Daughter’s Loving and Touching Farewell
August 14th, 2009
Maria Shriver eulogized her mother today at Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s funeral. How she did this without breaking down in tears and sobs shows the strength she got from God and her beloved mother.
Sit at the feet of Jesus, Mrs. Shriver, and receive your crowns for a faithful servant of your Lord.
Dismantling The Health Care Bill, One Provision At A Time….
August 13th, 2009
Uh..bye-bye……to that end of life care provision written into the House health care bill.
You know, the one which would have allowed a panel of “experts” to determine when your time here on earth is up.
According to Senator Grassleyit will be dropped from further negotiations. (AP article so no copy, just link)
With any luck this is only the beginning of the end of this attempted intrusion into our private lives by this administration and Congress.
Related:
Sweetness and Light
Ace
Breaking: Walter Cronkite Has Died
July 17th, 2009
Walter Cronkite, a legend in the world of news has passed away.
If he was here to announce his own passing it is certain he would close with “and that’s the way it is.”
There were countless events covered by Mr. Cronkite, but his final words on the death of President John F. Kennedy still evoke the emotions felt on the day he uttered them:
Our condolences to the family and may he Rest In Peace.
Oscar Mayer, RIP
July 8th, 2009
If you’ve ever eaten a hot dog, this is a name I’m sure you will recognize:
Oscar G. Mayer, who transformed his family business into one of the the world’s largest meat processors, died Monday. He was 95.
and if you are old enough, here is a commercial you will no doubt remember:
RIP Mr. Mayer.
Michael Jackson, R.I.P.
June 25th, 2009
Music icon Michael Jackson, whose fame spanned from his childhood with the legendary Jackson 5 to a superstar solo career that earned him the nickname ‘King of Pop,’ died Thursday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital, a source close to the family told FOX News. He was 50.
While his later years brought much turmoil to his life, no one can deny the contributions Michael Jackson made to the world of music.
As the death of Elvis Presley had a profound impact on one generation of music fans, the passing of Michael Jackson will do the same for another.
Rest In Peace Michael.
Michael in his early years,
and in 2001 performing with his brothers:
Farrah Fawcett Loses Battle With Cancer
June 25th, 2009
Farrah Fawcett 1947-2009
Farrah Fawcett, the beautiful blonde actress best-known for her one season in Charlie’s Angels, has lost her valiant battle with cancer at the age of 62.
Farrah seemed to have made her peace with God and I think now she is really an angel in heaven.
I pray for her son Redmond, her father, Ryan O’Neal, and her friends and other loved ones. May she rest in peace.
Ed McMahon, RIP
June 23rd, 2009
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson sidekick Ed McMahon has died in a Los Angeles hospital at age 86.
The Tonight Show was never as good for me after Carson and McMahon left. They gave me many hours of laughter and I miss the show. Now they are both gone.
Rest in peace, Ed McMahon.
Holocaust Museum Officer Loses His Fight For Life
June 10th, 2009
The shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has claimed the life of security guard, Stephen T. Johns.
WASHINGTON – A security guard shot in an exchange of gunfire Wednesday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has died of his injuries.
Museum officials identified the guard as 39-year-old Stephen T. Johns of Temple Hills, Md. Johns, a special police officer, was a six-year veteran of the museum. In an e-mail to the Associated Press, director Sara Bloomfield says he “died heroically in the line of duty.”
*Glenn Reynolds linked to this article which defines the importance of the Holocaust Museum for those who suffered horrific consequences of Nazi wrath.
Prayer Request
June 3rd, 2009
Sometimes, there are just no words…..
Please stop by Wide Awake Cafe to offer your prayers and support.
Thanks.
A Death in Our Family
May 26th, 2009
We received notice that INC’s father passed away on Sunday at 3:15pm.
INC is an occasional poster on our blog and a member of the J’s Cafe Nette family. She is a very devout Christian and is going through a hard time right now, as everyone does when they lose a parent.
We extend our prayers and good wishes to her and her entire family during this very difficult time.
We ask for you to be in prayer for INC and her family as well.
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 30:41)
Goodnight, Sweet Princess
April 16th, 2009
My mother was one of nine children of my grandmother’s and one of 18 children of my grandfather’s. Of my grandmother’s children six lived to adulthood and had children of their own.
Guss was the oldest of the cousins, followed by me a little less than a year later.
Because of the proximity of our houses all the cousins were like brothers and sisters and all the aunts were like second mothers.
Wednesday at 5:15 pm the last of Guss’ six siblings went to be with the Lord.
I called my uncle to tell him, only to be told by his wife that he was on his way by ambulance to the hospital with what sounds like dehydration from a stomach virus.
A double whammy in one hour. You know it happened but it doesn’t quite sink in at first.
You review the life of the one who has left us and pray for the one who is still here.
Goodnight, sweet Princess, and rest in the arms of Jesus forever and ever. I’ll meet you on the other side of the gate. Wait for us patiently. Your suffering is finally over.
I never told you, but I love you and I was so looking forward to seeing you in June. You stayed as strong as you could but you just didn’t have the strength to fight it off anymore. Go with God.
A Sad Day For Philadelphia Baseball
April 13th, 2009
The voice of my hometown Philadelphia Phillies has gone home.
Harry Kalas has left a void in the broadcast booth which he has graced since 1971. They say we are all replaceable…well I don’t know about that. Baseball will go on, games will be called, but there will be a hole there for Phillie fans which cannot be filled.
A home run call will never be the same for those of us who have followed this team over the years. Should there ever be another World Series Championship brought to Philly, the final out will not be called by a man Phillie fans grew to love.
To his family, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
While Harry was known for his play by play (oh that wonderful voice), he was much, much more.
It was moments like this…
for which he will always be remembered and admired.
Goodnight Harry, rest well..you earned it.
[I had hoped to post this earlier this afternoon but time constraints got in the way so please excuse any reference to Monday if you are reading tomorrow]
Families Grieve While Political Games Are Played In Washington (Updated)
February 6th, 2009
Over 3,000 Americans brutally killed on 9-11. 17 Sailors murdered on the USS Cole. Only 40 families of the departed met with Barack Obama today at the White House.
I wonder if other invitees felt much as this mother does:
There is no conceivable way I can feel the pain of Mrs. McDaniels, but as a fellow American first allow me to offer my condolences to the family and further, it is my opinion that she is 100% correct.
(Update): The family of another USS Cole Sailor who lost his life in the terrorist attack:
The trials of our son’s killers have become a heated political debate, and a political weapon that the liberals are using to get back at the past Bush administration, and the republican party. While the victims murders go unanswered, and the feelings of their families are taken on a emotional roller coaster ride.
While my family, myself and a good majority of Americans are wondering how can the Military Commissions Tribunals which were approved by congress can be overturned a by a President who does not agree with them. That’s not a democracy. That’s more like how President Saleh in Yemen acted after our son’s killers were tried in their courts. Saleh intervened for the killers and Al-Qaeda and then reduced their sentences, and pardoned others. And had the other Cole Bombers tried on unrelated charges, and then freed. As victims we had hoped that our own government would show us a little more respect. Wrong!
This is a very long, detailed piece but do yourself a favor and read the whole thing. Those who believe these folks garnered any more respect from former President Clinton than they are from the new administration..well you really need to check this out.
If a president, any president, cannot show respect for those who would lay down their lives for this country then how to you expect them to show respect for the balance of the population?
Further, following what was dubbed an emotional meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Obama proceeded with what is now “date night” at the White House:
It’s Friday, and that means one thing around the Obama White House: date night.
A Half Century May Have Passed But Their Music Has Never Died
February 3rd, 2009
Fifty years ago today the music world lost Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper:
Who could forget this:
or this:
Buddy Holly&The Crickets Boy-Oh,Boy/Peggy Sue
or 17 year old Ritchie Valens performing this:
Timeless music was produced by these men..the music world could use more like them today.
Touching, Very Touching
January 6th, 2009
This video originally was sent to me in an email but I could not capture a link or embed code so I searched it out on YouTube and was happy to find the copy below.
Meet Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy:
For Aunt Jean
January 5th, 2009
Last night, a little after midnight, I received a call from my Aunt Pat informing me that Aunt Jean had gone home to be with the Lord.
I can’t say it was unexpected as she has had bad health since my father died four years ago. She had heart bypass surgery, her large toe on her left foot amputated and then all the rest of the toes on that foot amputated, congestive heart failure when upon testing it was discovered she also had liver cancer.
The liver was operated on last summer and the cancer was removed, but she never really got back home except the week or so her husband rescued her from the nursing home where she had gone for rehab and had ended up with a terrible bedsore on her bottom and drugs not prescribed given to her.
Her home nurses suggested she go to the wound center, and she was shortly transferred to the main hospital because her heart was surrounded by fluid.
All this time she wouldn’t/couldn’t eat, and just before midnight last night she went home with no family there with her. She was speaking and her husband and daughter were ever so faithful, but that’s what happens many times. People wait until their loved ones are gone and then they leave.
She announced excitedly yesterday she was going home today. Today was her father’s birthday and she had seen him and my father while she was so sick from the heart operation. She said then she was no longer afraid to die.
I met her only a bit over six years ago, but it’s amazing how someone can work their way into your heart in such a short time if we but give ourselves the opportunities offered us.
Many of us will miss her, but for her, she is now home forever and we’ll see her again one day.
She is basking in the glow of Jesus, and now has ten toes, a good liver and a good heart again, and she is with those who left her behind in the past.
In the meantime, our hearts ache and our stomachs feel empty as we walk around with our memories and in a daze.
Please pray for her entire family; especially her husband, who has driven over 80 miles each way daily to be with her.
This is for you, Aunt Jean, with love and sweet memories.
Tony Snow RIP (Video Added)
July 12th, 2008
Condolences are offered to his family in their time of grief.
Words from the President:
All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith – and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.
President Bush’s full remarks on his former Press Secretary and friend here.
[Update]Virginia Shanahan echoes what I believe is the sentiment of many who felt they knew and greatly admired Tony Snow:
I did not know Tony Snow, and I never met him, but he made me feel as if I did. He had a profound impact on my life. I truly learned from this man, and I will miss him. My prayers are with his family and friends.
Thanks Anchoress for the link and welcome to readers from her site.
Jim McKay RIP
June 8th, 2008
Sports broadcasters could all have taken a thing or two from the playbook of Jim McKay.
Always a gentleman who treated athletes from all venues with respect and introduced many of us to the unusual in competitive sports via ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
Condolences to the family.
A Tribute To A Wonderful Man
April 16th, 2008
When our daughter-in-law started to work at Baylor Hospital in the pathology lab, she met all three partners in the pathology group.
One of the doctors, Dr. Dickey, noticed her hair was thin and asked if she had thyroid problems. He immediately did a test on her thyroid and found it had to be removed due to cancer.
When the cancer kept coming back in different places, it was Dr. Dickey who diagnosed her as having Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. After some research it was decided a certain regimen of drugs would stop the lymphoma and put her into remission.
We told her we would pay for the drugs, but it was on a week-end, and by Monday Dr. Dickey had ordered the drugs and had it waiting in the lab refrigerator for her to take her treatments. He went with her on every treatment to see how she was doing as she had some very violent side-effects from the drugs.
I have always admired missionaries and Dr. Dickey and his wife, a pediatrician, took a trip twice a year to go to a third-world country in South America or Africa to treat the people in need of medical care.
When I gave my daughter-in-law the family recipe for the best fudge I have ever eaten she took some in to work and Dr. Dickey immediately asked her to make 100 batches for his upcoming missionary trip. He called it “bling-bling”.
Because they entertained a lot they had a kitchen with two of everything so caterers could prepare food for large numbers of people. He would have our daughter-in-law running an assembly line of fudge until she made 100 batches. She was on payroll while she did this.
She did this for a couple of years and had the batch ready last year when another partner in the practice had a sudden heart attack and needed and got a new heart.
Dr. Dickey wouldn’t leave his old friend’s side so his wife took the mission trip by herself that year. As soon as Dr. Ketcherson got well again Dr. Dickey had a stroke. He drove himself to the hospital and told them his diagnosis.
He recovered from his stroke and planned to retire this year. Our daughter-in-law never made a medical decision or career decision without consulting with Dr. Dickey and Dr. Ketcherson.
A couple of weeks ago Dr. Dickey was cutting some tree branches at his home when he went inside and told his wife he didn’t feel well. Being a doctor herself, she recognized the symptoms of another stroke and took him to the hospital. Prior to the second stroke there were signs that Dr. Dickey might be entering the first stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. A brilliant mind was being wasted.
Tuesday night I called our son to see how he and the family were since he has been battling a kidney infection. He didn’t talk long but he called me back about an hour later and told me that Dr. Dickey had died earlier that evening and our daughter-in-law had just received the call from the hospital about 15 minutes before I called.
I never met Dr. Dickey, but I loved him for what he did for our daughter-in-law and how he treated our grandchildren. He would let our granddaughter look into the opposite side of his microscope and tell her all about the cells she was seeing, as well as show her specimens that had to be checked after removal from people’s bodies. Our grandson has a weak stomach and only looked at slides.
The Dickeys never had children but told our son and daughter-in-law as long as their children went to Baylor they would never have to pay a penny for their education.
Tonight this marvelously kind saint has gone home to be with the Lord he so faithfully served. Yes, there will be a funeral and people will cry, but only his shell remains. His soul, the very thing that made him a wonderful man, left his body and never missed a beat as he left the door of earthly life and entered into eternal life.
I pray for Dr. Dickey’s wife, family and friends. The world has lost a good missionary who gave of himself and came back with diseases foreign to us in the United States. Yet he continued to do it year after year, twice a year.
I personally thank him for the love he showed to my family and I know they will all miss him dearly. But this is just a temporary separation. Everyone will be reunited in Heaven one day and I look forward to meeting this very unique and wonderful saint.
Congressman Lantos has passed away
February 11th, 2008
Word has come that the California Congressman died this morning:
Congressman Tom Lantos of California has died. Lantos was the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress. His spokeswoman says he died early Monday morning.
Lynne Weill said that Lantos, 80, passed away at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center in suburban Maryland.
Condolences are offered to the Lantos family and may Mr. Lantos Rest In Peace.
Former Representative Henry Hyde has passed away
November 29th, 2007
MSNBC is reporting:
Former Rep. Henry Hyde, the Illinois Republican who steered the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton and championed government restrictions on the funding of abortions, has died. He was 83.
HT: Macranger who adds:
Very few of this breed left. Although he opposed the Iraq War he did son on principal, not on “stick the finger in the air†politics. A man who meant what he said, and said what he meant.
Condolences to the family and may Mr. Hyde Rest In Peace.
Chris Muir’s Family Suffers a Terrible Loss
October 14th, 2007
There is sad news today from the site of Sister Toldjah:
If you’ve been around the blogosphere any length of time, you are sure to have seen the daily cartoons of the Chris Muir, cartoons which have been a source of reading/viewing enjoyment for millions of blog readers for the last five years. Two years ago, I joined in a blog-wide campaign to drum up visibility for the website of the cancer treatment center that helped keep his sister, Cathy, alive. Cathy suffered from stage 4 colon cancer.
Today, I read with sadness that Cathy passed away on October 12th from a massive stroke. …….
Thoughts and prayers are offered by us here at J’s for Chris Muir and his family.
A sad commentary on the State of our Union
September 22nd, 2007
Folks, I hope you will bear with me as this post will be lengthy. There was sad news at Blackfive late yesterday afternoon:
A respected member of the blogging community who also happened to be serving our nation was killed in Iraq Wednesday.
There was a piece published by this young man in February at the New Media Journal which I must admit, given the circumstances now somehow takes on a new meaning.
When you give your life in the service of this Nation, you at least should know that many have, will and do support you and your mission.
Unfortunately, there are many serving today as there have been in the past who must have felt or feel exactly what was penned in this post.
And I am ignorant to the rest of the world…or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn’t fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that’s what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don’t realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy’s brutality because it’s against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward’s war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation’s news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes…only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society…and they are becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word “quagmire” around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.
Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet…and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed…for doing their job.
It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we’ve done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It’s all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It’s not like World War II, where people rationed food and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a servicemember, its life as usual…the war doesn’t affect you.
But it affects us. And when it is over and the troops come home and they try to piece together what’s left of them after their service…where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can’t touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.
May this brave warrior rest in peace, and may he know how many appreciate the ultimate sacrifice both he and his family made so we may continue to enjoy the freedoms we cherish so dearly.
(There is a bit more at the link if you care to read the balance of Sgt. Jeffers post)
~J~ says: I would like to add this hymn to this post as I think it fits perfectly as a comfort to Sgt. Jeffers’ family:
- There is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God, A
place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
0 Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God Hold
us who wait before Thee near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release near to the heart of God, A
place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.
0 Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God Hold
us who wait before Thee near to the heart of God.
Cleland Boyd McAfee
This hymn was written by a Presbyterian minister when he found out his two nieces had died of diphtheria one day apart. He had no other way to comfort himself or the family than by penning the song that God promises we are near to His heart.
May Sgt. Jeffers rest in eternal peace with his Eternal Father.
There were many who came to say goodbye to Pavarotti
September 9th, 2007
Luciano Pavarotti received many standing ovations during his long, incredible career. His popularity spanned the globe as is well evidenced in this slide show which provides many tasteful pictures from his funeral.
It’s not the dignitaries which interested me but the throngs of ordinary people who came to pay their last repects to this icon of Opera.
Oh, to be so loved by so many.
HT: <):)Roger L. Simon
Operations to Cease At Caved-In Utah Mine
August 23rd, 2007
My heart goes out to the families of the missing miners.
The Utah coal mine where three rescuers were killed and six men remained trapped will cease operations when the flagging effort to locate the missing is finally called off, mine operator Robert E. Murray said Wednesday. The statement by the combative chief executive of Murray Energy reversed earlier company statements that held the possibility of continued mining in a mountain that is coming to be regarded as a tomb.
In a lengthy telephone interview after several days away from the public eye, Murray both accepted personal responsibility “for what I’ve done to these miners and these families” and said he was unaware of key details about the risks of mining in the area of the huge Aug. 6 cave-in.
Despite statements by a company vice president over the weekend, Murray said he made the decision to shutter the entire Crandall Canyon mine last Friday, the morning after helping to pull dead and injured rescuers from the shaft that exploded onto them as they burrowed through the earlier collapse.
“I told Mr. Richard Stickler the next morning, ‘I’m submitting to you a plan to seal this mine. This mountain is alive,’ ” Murray said, referring to the head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, which is part of the Labor Department.
Murray, 67, was by turns unapologetic and remorseful in the interview. He said he was under a doctor’s care for a day and a half after helping to carry the dead and injured from Thursday’s catastrophic cave-in.
Former Reagan Advisor Michael Deaver Dies
August 18th, 2007
Former Reagan presidential advisor Michael Deaver has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 69.
Michael K. Deaver, one Ronald Reagan’s closest advisers during in the White House and the director of the president’s picturesque and symbolic public appearances, died Saturday. He was 69.
Deaver, who had pancreatic cancer, died at his home in Bethesda, Md., according to a statement from the Deaver family that was issued by Edelman, the public relations firm he served as vice chairman.Deaver was celebrated and scorned as an expert at media manipulation for focusing on how the president looked as much as what the president said. Reagan’s chief choreographer for public events, Deaver protected the commander in chief’s image and enhanced it with a flair for choosing just the right settings, poses and camera angles.
“I’ve always said the only thing I did is light him well,” Deaver told the Los Angeles Times in 2001. “My job was filling up the space around the head. I didn’t make Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan made me.”
Sympathies and prayers go out to his family.
Farewell, Mr. Bouchard
August 8th, 2007
OLD TOWN – Benoit J. Bouchard, 95, died Aug. 6, 2007, in Orono. Benoit was born April 11, 1912, in Old Town, the son of John and Henedine (St. Pierre) Bouchard. He graduated from Old Town High School in 1931 and Washington State Normal School, Machias, in 1934. He received his bachelor’s degree from Farmington State Teachers’ College and a master’s degree from the University of Maine. His first teaching position was in East New Portland, where he taught for three years. In 1937, he returned to Old Town to teach the sixth grade at the Herbert Gray school and was made principal of that school in 1938. Ben served in that position until his retirement in 1972. After his retirement, until he reached age 80, he substituted in Old Town schools in all grades from kindergarten through high school. He loved children. In all, he gave 55 years of devoted service to the youth of Old Town. During his years as principal, Ben brought many innovations into his school. He started annual operettas, which were mammoth musical productions held yearly in the city hall. Then, his sixth grade class produced a marionette show every year for several years. He introduced the Parent/Teacher’s Association, PTA, in his school and this was soon adopted in all the elementary schools in Old Town. Ben was a fine musician and played both the violin and trombone. In his high school days he was a member of both the orchestra and the band. In college, he was an active member of the Kappa Delta Phi fraternity. He earned his way through college by giving violin lessons and playing for dances. After college he was connected with two musical organizations, one an orchestra, which was composed of members of the Bouchard family and the other the Duffy orchestra in Orono.
I’ve heard it’s what you do with the dash in your life that matters. This obituary of Mr. Bouchard doesn’t begin to talk about what he did with the dash in his life.
From kindergarten through sixth grade Mr. Bouchard was the principal of Herbert Gray school, where Guss and I attended, as well as our aunts, uncle and mothers.
He walked with a big limp, which I found out recently was from polio.
He played his violin for us in class. Did I mention that in addition to being the principal he taught sixth grade half a day?
He was a stickler for penmanship and I fear he would be horrified by my lack of good penmanship. He taught us other topics too.
How well I remember the marionette show we put on! It was the most fun I had ever had up to that point. Everyone had a part.
He was a great teacher and a kind man. He once told me he played in my grandfather’s orchestra, and knowing someone who knew my grandfather made me feel special.
He loved Studebakers and I cannot think of a day when I didn’t see a Studebaker in the parking lot of our school.
He had a stroke several years ago and was in a nursing home where he was the life of the party.
On Monday he took a bad turn and on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock he went home to Heaven. He left behind 2 children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His beloved wife predeceased him by sixteen months.
Mr. Bouchard, some fifty plus years later your dash is still making a difference in my life. The world is a sadder place now that you have left it. I’m going to miss you.
