...and "Oh, That Smile!" It Will Be Missed
Nov 02 '09 (Updated Nov 23 '09)
The Bottom Line Thanks Bob, the warmth of your smile will stay with me forever. I look forward to seeing it again one day.
First published Oct 28, 2009
I'm a blessed guy with a wonderful wife and family that remain close. I have relatively good health, good friends and a good life.
I am also blessed to know an extraordinary guy and his family. His name was Robert W. Herrmann Jr. We knew each other through our church. A couple of our children also went to the same grade and school together and our wives worked together on the annual Christmas Pageant that included our children.
Even so though, we never got together outside of the church or school and I personally never spent more than five minutes at any one time talking with Bob. We just happened to be in different social circles and each dedicated much of our time to our own families. I did know though, that Bob was one of those rare people in life that made one feel special when around him...and Oh, that smile!
There was something extraordinary about Bob that made the few minutes spent with him the best of the day. Bob had a smile and a way about him that made one feel special. Every time I met him, whether in church, our children's school or at the local Home Depot he would come right over, shake a hand and treat one like they were the only person in the world. He was always an "up" and a positive guy. He also had a smile that lighted up the day!
Bob died last week at age 53 of brain cancer. He leaves a wonderful and very supportive wife and four beautiful and handsome children along with extended family. I will always remember to pray for all of them as they struggle through their loss.
In talking with people during the past few days I would hear the same words over and over. "Bob was the best person I ever met!" These weren't empty words or statements that seemed the correct thing to say at the moment. This was the truth!
Many accolades could be tossed Bob's way and I'm sure there's more I don't even know of.Bob never wore his accomplishments outwardly. He happened to be an extraordinary intelligent man who worked in the sciences. He was interested in community life and was very active in our church as a Parish Trustee and more. He, along with his wife also headed at least two groups dedicated to bringing people and their families into our church and strengthening their faith.
Even with his impressive gifts from God and the way he used his talents, it's the repeated address of him as "the best person I ever met", that speaks volumes about the essence of the man. He was a good guy, a convert Catholic Christian man who loved God, family and life. He lived what he believed always caring for others.
At the wake I met Bob's brother. He echoed the same sentiments saying Bob was always inclined to ask others how they were. That night another person told the story that even when Bob was near his last breaths on this earth, he was asking about the health of someone else that person knew. It was never about Bob, it was always about others. I heard those words echoed a number of times within the hour or so we were at the funeral home. There were multitudes of people there and my wife and I waited over half hour in line to be able to pay respects to Bob's wife and his family.
The next day brought a prayer service where one of our deacons who worked closely with Bob over the years read from The Bible's
1 Corinthians
Chapter 13
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Our deacon then exchanged Bob's name for "Love" and repeated the chapter. Each line rang true. It was fitting.
At graveside the next day his daughter read a few words dedicated to Bob, the head of their household. Included again was the chapter from Corinthians. She read, "My dad is patient, My Dad is kind..."
As his child, she knew well what those words meant and how Bob lived them...and yes, somewhere in remarks she repeated the words, ...and "Oh, that smile!"
My wife was going through family photos. She knew of one very special picture in our album. It was from last years Christmas Pageant and I was dressed up as St Nicholas, mitre, cape and all, with a finger pointed at Bob, asking if he was being a "good boy". Bob in his jolly spirit along with childlike manner and humility put on his usual huge smile.
I will always treasure that photograph in our own family album.
Two days earlier at the first day of the wake I was very pleased to see a large striking photo of Bob and his smile. That's how I will always remember him. That smile was as big and warm as the sun on a perfectly clear day. He lighted up the world for so many in the time he shared with them if even a short moment.
It's hard to understand why Bob is gone. There are no good answers to satisfy us as we trust in our faith to bring us through such tragedies. What I do know, however, is that I was blessed to know the man and have that bright smile of his, a special gift from God, shine upon me.
Thanks Bob, the warmth of your smile will stay with me forever. I look forward to seeing it again one day.
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