I am subdued and embarrassingly saddened by the passage of one of the dearest men ever to speak our mother tongue, my brother John, at 3:40 this morning in Grass Valley, California. His existence was woven into the fabric of my life from childhood, and it is unsettling to have to reorganize my universe and accommodate his sudden, permanent absence. He was a thoroughly decent man, kind, intelligent, highly humorous, with a casual courageousness that proved that life was more fun and less frightening than it is reputed to be. He will be missed by scores of friends and relatives.

I am of the opinion that he is spending some time hanging out at around 80,000 feet just admiring the view and enjoying the relief from a very trying and painful year of decline. I wish him grand adventure and great success wherever he may next turn his attention.

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