I'm sorry Joe, BDG has much more gifted orators/writers than I. But I am probably the best one to say something here, because:
I am the one who met you at the U.of R. gym and was emboldened to change majors (physics to EE) because of things you told me. I only wish you could know how well that worked out.
I am the one you "tricked" into going on my first date at U.of R. by threatening to call the girl I had met at a mixer if I didn't do it.
I am the one you chose to room with in 1967-68.
I am the one you chose to spend the summer of '68 with, driving around Europe in a VW Beetle, guided by our bible: Frommers' Europe on $5/day. What they don't tell you is that you had better speak the native languages. Nevertheless, we did it on about $3.50/day!
I am the one you tried to assist out of a German mountaintop winefest tent and who ended up assisting you the final 100 feet... and we both ended up freezing in a patch of nettles... not to mention the memorable "joke" your sister played on us the next miserable hungover day.
I am the one who learned that my father had died unexpectedly while you and I were thousands of miles away together... and you had to help me through that... I don't even remember how.
I am the one you chose to go camping with (with our new brides) in Quebec (1971), and we happened to pick the peak of the blackfly season... and somehow we emerged from that fiasco better friends than ever.
I am the one who initially dismissed your advice to join a dancing community around the age of 45 or so, but discovered about 5 years later what good advice it was.
Dear Joe, you had more love of life than anyone else I know, and you always saw more potential in me than I could see myself. Your early demise by an unbeatable disease is a terrible injustice. I can't say RIP, because resting was never your style. Thanks for the companionship, advice, belief, and memories. We miss you.
(Dr) "Bob" Kettig (1969)
I'm sorry Joe, BDG has much more gifted orators/writers than I. But I am probably the best one to say something here, because:
I am the one who met you at the U.of R. gym and was emboldened to change majors (physics to EE) because of things you told me. I only wish you could know how well that worked out.
I am the one you "tricked" into going on my first date at U.of R. by threatening to call the girl I had met at a mixer if I didn't do it.
I am the one you chose to room with in 1967-68.
I am the one you chose to spend the summer of '68 with, driving around Europe in a VW Beetle, guided by our bible: Frommers' Europe on $5/day. What they don't tell you is that you had better speak the native languages. Nevertheless, we did it on about $3.50/day!
I am the one you tried to assist out of a German mountaintop winefest tent and who ended up assisting you the final 100 feet... and we both ended up freezing in a patch of nettles... not to mention the memorable "joke" your sister played on us the next miserable hungover day.
I am the one who learned that my father had died unexpectedly while you and I were thousands of miles away together... and you had to help me through that... I don't even remember how.
I am the one you chose to go camping with (with our new brides) in Quebec (1971), and we happened to pick the peak of the blackfly season... and somehow we emerged from that fiasco better friends than ever.
I am the one who initially dismissed your advice to join a dancing community around the age of 45 or so, but discovered about 5 years later what good advice it was.
Dear Joe, you had more love of life than anyone else I know, and you always saw more potential in me than I could see myself. Your early demise by an unbeatable disease is a terrible injustice. I can't say RIP, because resting was never your style. Thanks for the companionship, advice, belief, and memories. We miss you.
- Bob