Robert’s life was full. He embraced life with a huge heart. He took it all in, he seemed to hear more than we hear, saw more than we saw and felt more than we feel. As he grew to adulthood, he was known as a truth-teller. An exuberant extrovert, he was born into a family of happy introverts and found us utterly baffling and we him at times. As an adult, he sought those who cheered him, those who kept him company and especially those who loved to play. 

His path was rarely easy. He broke his neck when he was in high school and his back when he was in his forties. He battled peripheral neuropathy and diabetes for over a decade. He self-medicated bipolar disorder with alcohol. In spite of all of this, he never ceased his efforts to do the right thing. We share these things about Robert to bring light to the shame and stigma that people with mental illness and alcoholism must endure, and inhibit their reaching out for help.

We are honored to have walked with Robert on his journey and have been grateful for his company on ours. He “had our backs” fiercely. He had compassion for each and every outsider he met. His resilience was an inspiration. He was a man of honor and a faithful friend. His life was a success in the most important ways and he leaves a hole in the hearts of many.