Thursday, October 26, 2017
Gretchen and I (Fred) offer our condolences to you Jim, Phyllis, Patty, Tina and your families.
Eric, Eleanor and 'you-all' seemed to be “there” throughout so many years of our lives since we lived across the street from each other on Doonaree Drive for the 1960s decade.
The numerous parties back and forth between our homes. Your swimming pool… open to all. Jim was almost our most costly ‘baby-sitter’ in those days @ .50 cents per hour or @ .10 cents per child. The times at your cottage on Chemong Lake both summer and winter; we were snowmobiling there when we got the news that Gretchen’s mom had died unexpectedly (age 68) in January 1968. The trip together in our individual RVs from Toronto to Vancouver Island and back. Weddings. Hospital and Medical Conferences and collaborations. Etc. Etc.
When our family relocated to California in 1978, we continued our relationship from a distance by phone, later by the computer internet, and annual visits we made back to Ontario. Eric and Eleanor visited our home in Los Gatos CA after the returned from a trip to Hong Kong.
When Eric called to report the unbelievable story of Eleanor’s untimely death, it brought me to tears and I could not continue the conversation; what a wonderful loving couple and a great example of the true meaning of “marriage”. Eric displayed Eleanor’s picture everywhere in his Kingston home and he never got over his great loss to his dying day. That day came shortly after he had a final birthday party at Jim and Marnie’s with family, acquaintances, and friends who had not outlived your dad at age 95.
Gretchen and I saw him at his Innisfil retirement home in June 2017. He was so frail and his colleague Madeline was so helpful to him; his mind was as clear as ever in a failing body (dialysis three times a week). When we reluctantly departed, we knew that we were probably saying ‘good-bye’ to each other for the last time.
We were so privileged to be friends with this great man and his family; so many memories….he will always be with us.
I will conclude with a poem that I believe would reflect Eric’s hope for we who mourn and at the same time we who rejoice that his work here on Earth is done.
This poem is attributed to various authors and is also known by several different titles
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I've found that peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch,
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.
