Goodbye My Friend....

Last night a very special man in my life passed away after a very short diagnosis of cancer.  His wife, Marge, had emailed last week to let me know of the prognosis and that Richard was scheduled for some more tests the beginning of the week.  I immediately thought to myself to call him to let him know that I was praying for him and loved him dearly.  But, as usual, I put it off thinking I had time and I would wait for the weekend.  Then I received an email this morning (Fri) to say he had passed away in his sleep.  He was able to leave this world with Marge's arms wrapped around him, just the way he wanted to go.

I, along with a very selected few, was taken under his wing early on in my assessment career. He was the City Assessor of Richmond, VA and later the President of the International Association of Assessing Officers. At times I wanted to wring his neck - but he'd give me that $^&* Ass grin of  his and tell me I could do it!  He gave me the confidence in myself that I could accomplish just about anything I set my mind to. Between Richard and my Dad, they both had more faith in me than I had in myself.  Another one of the "selected few", Barbara Brunner, passed away in 2002 of cancer also.  We teased Richard that he had a harem of Barbara's, but I was number ONE  since I was Barbara A and the other was Barbara B. 

He will always be in my thoughts and heart

GOODBYE  MY  FRIEND .....