My deepest condolences to Monique, Erin, and Kelly, and all the rest of Rob's family. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that my friend Rob is no longer among us, but I am comforted by the fact that he finally gets to tell "Dad" how much he loves Him face to face. There is so much I could write about him, but first and foremost is the way he truly lived his faith. People talk about having a relationship with Jesus all the time, but Rob truly exemplified that. There was just something about the way he referred to God as "Dad" that always touched me deep inside. He was genuinely sincere in his verbiage, and it showed in his actions.
I met Rob while working at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and quickly knew I had found a kindred spirit. His love of people, big smile, hugs goodbye, and quick guffaws were like looking into a mirror that I seldom saw with other men. It somehow validated my outlook on life, and I was happy to be referred to as "Brother" by him. I truly believe that Rob had the gift of making all of us feel important and validated in our own lives.
I know that one of Rob's greatest gifts to us all was his beforementioned smile and laughter. If you met Rob even just once you likely encountered both. I like to imagine him meeting Jesus and sharing that joy, as best shown in one of my favorite pictures of Our Saviour, "The Laughing Christ", also known as "Jesus Christ, Liberator".
As Sports Coordinator at SEAS I was always searching out adult volunteers to assist in coaching our teams or helping in other ways and Rob was someone who could always be counted on. Knowing we had parents like him definitely made a difference as our school grew into the largest elementary/jr high in the Diocese of Fort Worth. We had several teams within the same grade level, and it was not always easy to accommodate that, but Rob did all he could to help. He coached and helped me find other adult volunteers to do so. He just wanted all of the kids to have a chance to participate, whether they were his own daughters or other children at the school.
Rob is the reason I joined the Knights of Columbus. I had many friends in the group, but Rob is the one who was most responsible for those gentle pushes to join that group of likeminded men in our parish. I know his volunteer time in the group rivaled anyone's and he gave of himself with joy. I remember many days seeing him at the KC Hall during school hours as he would be there preparing for some feast or other activity, and he would always make time to say hello and see how things were going. I also remember how the Beautiful Feet Ministry really brought out the humbleness in him. I remember delivering shoes and clothes with him and then staying to serve food to those less fortunate. It was such a humbling honor to be included in that aspect of giving that I made sure that my sons got involved the next trip I took with Rob to the charity. I remember that it was around Christmas, and it truly brought The Reason For The Season to light in their eyes.
Yes, I have a world of great memories connected with the decade or so that I got to spend a good amount of time with Rob on a regular basis, but the one that really means the most to me is the compassion, understanding, therapeutic listening, and brotherly love that he showed me as I was forced down the path of divorce after 25 years of marriage. I had a great amount of support and caring from so many people I could not count them if I was forced to, but Rob was among those that made sure to check on me almost every single day. He would always ask how things were going, pray with me in the parking lot before my workday started, and offered stories of other friends he had who had been through the same thing so that I could hopefully see the dim light at the other end of the tunnel. He propped me up and reminded me to stay true to myself and not fall prey to the easy game of tit-for-tat that so often comes up in such instances. He reminded me that now was the time I needed to remember that my children were watching both me and Sonya, and that it was vital to them that my actions matched my words, no matter the temptation to do otherwise. He reminded me that I needed to "be a good man" as much now as I had ever been, and I can only hope that I was able to do so. I have thanked him many times for what he did for me and the boys through all of that nightmare, but I will always wonder if he truly knew just how much he made a difference. I can only believe that if he didn't, he does now. If I am ever given the opportunity to pay that aspect of friendship forward to another, I will rely heavily on the things he taught me and reminded me of.
I am deeply saddened at the fact I live in a world that no longer has the blessing of Rob in it, but I can only hope and pray that those of us lucky enough to be loved and inspired by him will continue his ministry of not just talking the talk, but, most importantly, walking the walk. Rest In Peace Brother and may the Perpetual Light shine upon you. I love and miss you Rob.
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