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Robert W. Bardell, 12/17/41-9/3/05
There were many fond remembrances of you fellow classmates from Bob's youth. That "good Ukrainian boy" remained young at heart all his days. He loved life, and the people in his, right up to his last breath. Bob's greatest accomplishments in life would depend on the values of those of whom you asked the question. The words I most often hear spoken of him refer to his faith, intelligence, intensity, thirst for knowledge, technical nature, logic, humor (dry with an appreciation of the absurd), honesty (occasionally of the foot-in-mouth type), persistence, sense of honor, ethics, morals, respect, accountability, and caring. Bob always gave his best. He expected no more of others than he did of himself. Bob had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and say what he meant, mean what he said, and ably defend it. When our worlds collided, time became immeasurable. His promise that it would never be dull was fulfilled. We were one, hearts and souls flowing into and through each other with love, respect, and adoration that knew no bounds. Bob's health situation created some of the best lemonade ever made and his strength of will added 15 years to the 5 his doctors gave him. I was always "his lady" and treated as such. When he got back into drag racing with his truck "Mayhem," he became Mayhem Bob and pronounced me Lady Mayhem. I kidded Bob that life may have mellowed him for the better (what temper?) and the sometimes inhospitable Texans perhaps slowed down his great baritone voice's New Jersey delivery (unless speaking with others from the northern locales), but he was always my beloved "damn Yankee!" I didn't know just how many friends we had until they expressed their love for Bob during his final illness and upon his death. If Heaven has drag races, I'm sure Bob shoved his halo back on his head and started engineering how to use his wings to aerodynamic advantage!
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