Sunday, July 12, 2009
John, Karen & Michaela, my heart aches with yours. This is a hard loss that is deeply felt. My beloved Uncle Bubby was so special because he encouraged me in the love of classical music by giving me my first classical records that I treasured until they wore out & by playing classics on our old, beat up pink piano. He took me to my first concert of The Cleveland Orchestra. We sat in box seats. I was so proud to be with him. When he lived with us I remember him lying on his bed studying law books late into the night. That made me set my sights to go to college. I loved his hearty laugh and how he was so precise in choosing his words when he wrote to me. He must have been a fine lawyer. A brilliant brain sat atop his sometimes awkward, long-legged body. Though one was a Republican and one turned Democrat they were civil when Al and my dad (Horace, aka "Denny")talked politics, an interest of both who were active in community affairs. I recall when Al ran for office in Akron about the time Dad was mayor of Salem for 10 years. Though Al didn't suffer misspoken fools lightly he had a gentle, graciousness about him that I will miss greatly. They were the oldest and youngest of four brothers. It was amusing that he & Aunt Bea were so worried that they wouldn't know how to be the best grandparents when Michaela was born. I reassured them that they'd find a way to love that much-wanted bundle. As it turned out, though they knew boasting too much wasn't polite in their generation, you could hear Al's voice just melt when he talked about Michaela with mock reserve, buttons popping with pride. After I met her in 2004 I encouraged him to boast even more! He just chuckled. He'll always live in my heart. -- My love to you from his eldest niece, Nola.
