I first encountered Arron on the sidewalks of Waldo, as I would not know it then, he was out with my future husband/father to my son, Philip. Aaron was magnetic. You couldn’t help but be drawn in to his energetic vibes, big blue eyes and zest for life. My girlfriend was wonderstruck. I turn around to find them both at the juke box, queuing up Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance with Somebody...asking us to go dance with them. There was no dance floor(that comes later in the evening)…just a concrete area in the middle of the bar that was wide open. Boy, was Aaron fun. Not regular fun…the kind of fun that made everyone want to be near him, next to him, just in his orbit. He had you laughing til your side hurt, and spiting your drink out with his witty one-liners, to then hear “it’s okay, I’ve got the next one..it’s on me.” I’ll never forget the first night I met him. He accompanied a girlfriend of mine, and myself to an urban 2-stepping nightclub on Troost Ave. He’d ordered a car service that was out front and would take us there. He knew not one stranger. Next thing we know, we’re standing at the metal detectors of the entrance to this adult, soulful, contemporary dance hall. Within the hour Arron had found his way to the well-lit, well-designated hardwood dance floor doing the worm. The  women adored him. He danced with several throughout the night and when we departed, I swear it was as if these ladies threw roses at him, as we exited the establishment.

You didn’t always know exactly what kind of fun you’d find yourself in(which was often times the most appealing part), but you knew you were bound for lots of laughter, positive vibes, music & dancing…just a pure good time. Aaron was a loyal friend. Not only to Philip, but to so many individuals who he crossed paths. He had a huge group of friends. If you needed anything at all, Aaron was a phone call away and he’d make it through to help. Someway, somehow…always. I think he found true joy in helping others. It showed in his work with The Valor Project. It showed in his longtime, decade-spanning friendships. It showed in his ability to connect people. Arron was the kinda guy that you never underestimated. I once said..I could see him inventing something at 50, becoming a millionaire and it just would not have surprised me. Aaron was creative. I swear, I’d see him and he’d show me some spectacularly brilliant work he was working on that I’d had no clue he was capable of doing, and that I certainly could never replicate. I just learned quickly to never be surprised or underestimate what he was working on. Arron was so many things…these are just some that come to mind as I sit down to write this. Authentic. Spontaneous. Fearless. Sensitive. Aware. Hysterical. Smart. Entertaining. Supportive. Loyal. Fun. He will be missed deeply and will always be remembered with great fondness. 

Christmas 2003, home on leave from basic training, my brother and I went to the Crossing for a beer and there was a guy on the other side of the bar with a shaved head like mine. We just pointed at each other and said “basic training?” We were both training at Ft Knox and had no idea how intertwined our circles already were and would grow to be. I’ll never forget the talks we had pre and post deployment for both of us. He was such a special guy, truly one of a kind and I will miss him dearly. Rest easy AB.