I just found out about Barts passing today.  I was stunned, shocked.  I feel so bad. I haven't seen him for a very long time but I remember him so well. We had so many classes together in high school. He was a  terrific guy. So sorry for your loss.

After being raised in the Pacific NW, I moved to Pittsburgh for Graduate school having met and or talked to very little family prior to the move.  Darren was always the exception and made certain I was always ok.  He was such a genuinely good human being - the paradigm of what we should all strive to be.  Generous with his time, caring and open with anyone who was was the same in return regardless of race, color, creed.  He was the best uncle, an incredible friend, and I miss him dearly.  I'm so grateful for the time I was blessed to spend with him.  I always assumed there was so much time left.   I miss you uncle Darren.  Only the good die young, and to me, you were the best. 

Darren and I found each other in 2017, introduced by a mutual friend while I was living in Florida. From the very beginning, we couldn't spend enough time together — talking endlessly on the phone, FaceTiming late into the night, falling completely and fearlessly in love.

In October, Darren flew to Florida to bring me home to Ellwood City — like a knight on a white horse. Before long, we built a life together in a small, cozy home.

In 2019, I had the honor of meeting his children, grandchildren, and first wife. From that first moment, I knew we would share a bond as a beautiful, blended family.

On April 1, 2020, Darren tucked an engagement ring under my pillow. We married on November 28, 2020 — the happiest day of my life. Soon after, we found the home he had always dreamed of: wide open spaces, room for the dogs to run, land to plant our garden, and trails to explore together.

Even when Darren fell ill with Microscopic Polyangiitis in November 2023, he faced it with quiet courage. Though he was never truly in remission, he kept living — tilling the garden, changing my oil, fixing things around the house, refusing to surrender the life he loved.

The day before he left us, he was full of light. He moved without his walker, breathed easily, danced with me in the kitchen, and laughed with me as we ended the night.

He was my husband, my soul's companion, my greatest joy, and my very best friend. His love will carry me through the rest of my days. 

Sorry for your loss of a wonderful loving man. Even though it’s been many years since I have seen Bart, I remember all the joy and laughter he brought to many lives during our high school years. May your treasured memories bring you comfort.