Kathy -- What a lovely tribute, and sage advice for us to all heed. Best regards, Pat

Sometimes people can be critical or opinionated of people they don't know well or know about their backgrounds. I sometimes heard such comments about John in high school. But I knew John well and his story is a poignant one. John and I were cousins, our mothers being sisters. We grew up two blocks from each other and knew each other well. He lived a challenging life. When we were 7 years old his mother died during her eighth pregnancy leaving 6 sons and one daughter. Eventually a step-mother would enter the scene and things would become even worse. I would see him at school and wonder how he could cope with what I knew to be happening in his life. Yet John was always friendly and made an effort to be upbeat. He struggled in school and did his best. When he had children he took it seriously and wanted his kids to do well in life. When he died his youngest was the same age he was when his mother had died. Your struggle was worth the effort John. You were loved and are remembered still.