A man died last Thursday. A humble, gentle man who whole-heartedly loved people, most especially children, and who was passionate about teaching and helping everyone he met.

He was a long-time friend of our family, whose son was in my HS graduating class at RCS. I met him when I was four or five, and he became one of my first favorite people. He was my very own local Mr. Rogers. I still remember how he smiled and played guitar and sang Christian songs like "Did you ever talk to God above?" for us kids at Christian summer camp, year after year.

Even when I was much older, in these latter days, he never avoided a conversation with me. Never stopped trying to relate to my generation, to find out what I was up to, and to encourage me.

I, and my parents and brother, attended his memorial service last night. As several people gave testimonials, I realized that we all knew and remember him as the same man. He was the same kind, loving, and wonderful man to us all.