General Discussion

Bob was my brother, but the good people here at DU and his veteran's organizations were Bob's real family. Bob hadn't seen his son in 25 years, and my interactions with him were limited to an occasional dinner at a local restaurant. Sharing condolences among yourselves at DU is most appropriate.

Bob was a very frugal individual; he had a handful of garments in his closet and owned just two pair of shoes. Yet, when it came to helping the homeless or veterans organizations, his generosity knew no bounds. This beneficence was also extended to politicians who fought for the rights of all of us.

Bob was happiest when he was working to effect change, whether it was striking down restrictive voter laws or improving care for our veterans. Whether he was marching in the streets or sending letters to the major newspapers, he had but one goal in mind: to help others. I met an Army Colonel who, while riding the train to his job at the Pentagon, read a letter in the Washington Post which Bob had written in response to a Colman McCarthy column. The Colonel said it brought him to tears. That was Bob's way, to reason with others when possible, and to protest peacefully as a last resort.

I have a new appreciation for these words from Robert Frost's famous "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," written nearly a century ago:

But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Sleep well, brother, for you have kept the faith.
Your Du brothers and sisters will pass the torch until the victory is complete.