A letter from one of my father’s dear friends ❤️
Classmates--
At 5 p.m. on Monday evening I called Kyle Shenk again to inquire about Bruce. "His breathing is slowing and he is taking very little nourishment of any kind, Definitely much weaker, " Kyle responded. Then there was a brief pause before Kyle said, "I can't believe it but he just opened eyes! We think he can hear what we say to him, though he cannot respond. Would you like to talk to him.?" I was a bit surprised by Kyle's invitation but he turned on the speakerphone and said, "Go ahead--I know he will be happy to hear your voice." So I began...gave him my name, expressed my, and all his classmates, concern for him, assured him that he was in our thoughts and prayers. Then, for a moment, I was at a loss for words! (Yes, I know some of you will find that statement beyond belie!) But then suddenly, inexplicably, my mind returned to a muddy, sloppy rainy, chilly Saturday afternoon in November,1957. It was our final game with arch rival Milton Hershey School and the weather was the worst we had experienced that year--just awful. Such weather is a great equalizer in football because skill is essentially neutralized, the ball is wet, getting traction is impossible, every player is weighed down by mud and rain-soaked gear. Put simply, our unbeaten season was in jeopardy.
I recalled that on that day, 62 years ago this month, Ben Klingler managed to throw a beautiful pass to the sprinting Bruce Shenk, who caught the ball in stride and managed to elude a tackler or two on his way to a touchdown. I think it may have been the only touchdown we scored, and though the game ended in a tie, we remained undefeated--because of Bruce's touchdown!
I described that memory to Bruce and recall ending with the words, "Bruce, you saved our undefeated season. I hope you still have that memory too!
Kyle came came back on the line at that point, thankfully. And with his voice breaking, he said, "Earl, I wish you could see his face now--he is smiling from ear to ear! He really is! I'm sure he heard you--and that smile makes me believe he does remember that moment"
In the course of my ministry, I've had a few other such 'serendipitous moments' that buttress my faith in God and in human relationships. This is among them. I am so grateful that, in my moment of not knowing what to say, Something or Someone gave me words that became a conversation--some spoken, some said silently that testify eloquently to the sanctity of human relationships and eternal truths!
Bruce had many spectacular moments in his athletic career, in both football and track in high school and track. And he was a very special person to all who new him.
Farewell, my Trojan brother! Rest in peace.
Earl