I've Been Thinking

I have had people on my mind for some time now. Maybe it's because I'm in my 60s and we start feeling more mortal when others we've known and loved have passed. Pass on this if you want. I feel a need to mention their names and maybe what part they played in my life.
Michael John Sanders - I consider Mike my first real Kenpo teacher. He lost his life in a motorcycle accident in the late 70s at the age of 37. Like a brother to me.
                                                       

Ed Parker - fatal heart attack at age 59. I was his student for 11 years. Like a dad to me.

Robert Ray (Michael William Wallace) - a student of mine for 20 years. A "Brother from another mother" as he said. Killed in a stupid accident, run over crossing the street.
                                             
Francis Rene - a fellow Huk lineage student. What a great guy, always smiling, made you laugh. Pancreatic cancer got him. He visited a priest, rabbi and a Taoist monk before he died, saying he wanted all his bases covered.

Francis in center

SiBok Tom Kelly - one of the seniors in our system. I met him at the Internationals. One heck of a man.
                                       
                                                  .
Frank Triolo - the Best Man at my wedding. Airline captain, lawyer, accountant, musician, black belt in two systems. Always had my back. Pancreatic got him, too.
                                              
Rick Stone - passed at 90, 4 time cancer survivor. WW II veteran, served in the British SAS. Friend and advisor. Got his black at 73 - oldest person to make it in the system.
Frank Trejo - what a character. He was a huge influence on my Kenpo. I met him at Pasadena in 1977 and when I started under Mr. Parker directly in 1979, Frank was there to help me. We became good friends. His last years were rough, with diabetes, amputation, and sight loss.
                                          
John McSweeney - I met him in Chicago and re-introduced him to Ed Parker. I moved to Florida and he and his wife moved there, not far from my studio. He used to stop in to talk. As Frank Triolo said of him, "What's not to like about an Irish storyteller?"

McSweeney in camo

Rich Kozik - I met him when he was 16 and he'd later tell me I was a substitute for for his late father. I knew him all his adult life and watched him go from that kid to being an Illinois State Police Lieutenant. Cancer got him, too.

Paul MacMurray and Steve Broadbent - two of Graham Lelliott's black belts I had known for years. Paul had cancer and Steve, a brain tumor. Time with them was well-spent.

Paul in the center

Broadie on the right

I have other black belts I have outlived - Ken Miller, Jory Carson, Ed Barr.
I lost my mom and all my aunts and uncles. Dad is still alive and I'm grateful for that.
I try to keep up with my friends and students who are dealing with medical issues and the list is long.
They are on my mind, even if I am not so good about keeping in touch.
Peter G., Rebecca K, Sam B, Graham L, Marty S, Eddie C, Bob W, Ron C, Felix I, and the rest - I keep you in mind.
As for me, I'm in good shape. People have "killed" me from time to time and have wished me a swift recovery from other things.
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.