Dennis Gladwell
To Brent and Keith. Why a celebration ?
Mike, among other OHS grads in our class, gather for a lunch about every 6 weeks give or take. Eddy VanSweden is the informal "chair." Mike was a regular member of the "group". Mike was very sick. He had been on dialysis for 4 years, and was a former shadow of himself. When he suddenly died 4 weeks ago, if you might remember, his obituary was about two inches in length and said almost nothing. The back story was that his sister had composed the obit without input from Mike's wife- but there was no viewing or funeral. And what obit there was, certainly did not do justice to the to remarkable life Mike led.
Thus, without a funeral or a viewing, there was no way to "pay our respects." Mike was a close friend of mine, and the "luncheon group" felt we should invite his wife to a celebration of Mike's life, and give some of us an opportunity to say good bye to a good friend, and to let her know that many of us old guys cared about him.
So that is what we did. About 15 of us attended. Mike's wife, Carol, came, and a couple of his nieces. It lasted about 50 minutes. You both were welcomed as were the other 100 class-mates who did not show.
Call Eddy and he will put your name on the e-mail that gives us a place and a date for the next lunch. It is so informal that anyone and noone comes each time.
I am preparing a Trust and Will for Carol, Advanced Medical Directives and a Special Power of Attorney. I trust you will not object to that effort on the basis that I have never provided these legal services for any other class member. Hope to see you soon. Dennis Gladwell
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