Friday, March 12, 2010
Dear Marlyn, Cindy, Andrea, Scott and family, My deepest sympathy and condolences on your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you to find peace and comfort. It was hard for me to realize that it was about 40 years ago that I first met Ward. Cindy and I were high school sweethearts, and that provided a base for an endearing lifetime friendship that continues today. From our first meeting, and throughout the years he always treated me well and made me feel welcome at any and all times that I came visiting your home at Hancock and then Ward Street. Looking back to that first meeting, I have a much better appreciation of the situation, now that I also have had the experience of raising a teenage daughter, and greeting at the door the young men who come there seeking her company. The first meeting is always an awkward situation at best, especially for a young man who is trying to make his best first impression. I knew a little about Ward before this first meeting, as I had seen him around town or at various public events, and knowing that he was an athletic coach, and playing several sports myself, I knew he commanded respect. At first our conversations were brief and polite, but as the time went on we talked more often, usually about sports. I also discovered that he had a dry sense of humor, that once again as a dad, I can now understand as it sometimes revolved about guys being guys, which for some reason always seems to embarrass our daughters, which we as men just cannot understand, or as dad�s, we sometimes get a little chuckle out of this. I remember Ward kidding us many times, and Marlyn or Cindy scolding him, for what I could not understand, as I usually found the remarks entertaining or innocuous. Years later I found myself in the same situation with my wife and daughter scolding me as I made some little innocent remark to my daughter and her date. Although the times Ward and I had to ourselves were brief, and few, those most memorable were usually sitting by the TV and having a polite disagreement about the athletic event we were watching, either the skills or quality of the team or player, or the play or decision made by a player, team or referee. I was never quite sure what Ward enjoyed more, being correct or having you disagree with him so he might have the pleasure of educating you as to why your were incorrect. Either way he cut to the chase and demonstrated a keen knowledge and appreciation for the sport and the art of the strategy of the game. He always had the heart and intelligence of a competitor, and the love of the game. May you be blessed with many fond memories of the good times shared together as family filled with the love of caring and humor that ease the pain of loss. Sincerely, Gary
