The "C" word

The disease that dare not speak it's name.

CANCER

The gentleman we honored today didn't speak it's name. Diagnosed seven years ago, he quietly endured (and ignored) cancer. Refusing to let it invade his life as he continued enjoying everything he wanted and loved to do. Ski trips with family, half marathons and triathlons, a 28 mile mountain bike epic in the Upper Peninsula with his sons, biking, kayaking, boating, golfing, piano, U of Michigan football, Red Wings hockey, his grandchildren's hockey and of course whistling.

I overheard one guest say that they saw him mowing his lawn last week.

Born in an affluent Detroit suburb he graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Masters of Arts degree. He landed his first job at a radio station in Northern Lower Michigan and then spent the last 37 years of his career at a local station here. Today there was mention of how students would wait in the morning before heading out to the bus in the snow for him to make the announcement that school was closed due to the snow and ice. If school was closed, everyone loved him. If not, well there's always tomorrow. In 1984 he started teaching at the community college, instructing and interacting with many children over the years. He often commented on how fortunate he was not only to have a single job he loved, but two jobs that he loved. He's been an active member of many boards and foundations in the community over the years.

During the service, many familiar radio voices spoke about their experiences working with such a positive influence for so long.
This is truly a man that will be missed by the entire county.

But perhaps the most inspiring part of the whole story is the fact that he told no one about his impending doom. He felt it would cause people to treat him differently. He did not want to undergo all the chemo therapy and medications. He did not want to spend months if not years fighting a losing battle in the hospital. He felt that he'd lived a full life, and at 69, that life came to an end. None of his friends or family even knew that he was sick. The shock spread across the airwaves Tuesday and hardly a soul could believe that they'd never hear his voice again. The voice of radio in our corner of the world has changed forever. But his spirit will live on in all that he worked with, taught and that listened to him every weekday morning. His courage in his last years was perhaps the most epic thing he, or anyone could ever do.

I can only hope that I have his strength and the other "C" word (Courage) when the time comes.