Dear Harry,
     I still can’t believe you are gone. You were the big brother this little girl always dreamed of having. I can only remember TWICE in my lifetime of 68 years (as long as I’ve known you) where we had cross words with one another. You were always there for me: when I was 7 years old and needed stitches for my crushed thumb, you wrapped my bloodied hand and rushed me to MacNeal Hospital. When I had surgery in 8th grade you alone were sitting by my bedside when I came out of anesthesia. You were our family’s shining light on Easter Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and every other holiday. You matured from an amazing son and brother to an amazing husband, dad and grandpa. 
     Last month I confided in you how angry I was with God that you were struggling with this nightmare that was clearly not going to have a good ending. You responded, ‘Cindy, you will get over this’. I will NEVER get over the loss of you. I’ll miss your loud infectious laugh. I’ll miss our hour long phone conversations (neither one of us were phone people, but somehow we thought of everything under the sun to talk about) Damnit, I’m going to miss you Harry! Give everyone that has gone before us a big warm hug from me. 
     A dear friend sent me this quote ‘There is a huge risk of loving one so deeply that the sadness you feel when they’re gone is unbearable.’But I will take your love and wisdom with me thru out the rest of my life, until I too have to say goodbye. 

In the summer of 1995, we went to Aunt Rita's farm in Wisconsin where they had two adorable Lab/Golden Retriever puppies, Calvin & Hobbes. I walked up to my mom with Calvin in my arms and just looked at her with pouting eyes and she said, "Okay, fine." Dad and I were thrilled! We promised to look after him and train him and walk him. 
Calvin became dad's buddy, always playing tug-o-war with a toy and going on car rides. He loved that dog and Calvin loved him. 
The first time I brought home my college boyfriend, instead of being the typical dad all foreboding and scary, dad was on his hands and knees on the living room floor wrestling with Calvin and laughing.
I definitely inherited a love for dogs from my dad and anytime I see a dog in a car hanging out the window with it's tongue out, I think of him and Calvin and smile. 

Harry was a wonderful and loving brother-in-law.  My favorite picture of Harry & I was taken in Liverpool England where we were touring the roots of the Beatles.  I was jealous because he talked of seeing the Beatles in concert in 1965.  We traveled to several places with Harry and Nancy and always got along so well!  The England trip included Joanne and Bill and also included France and the Czech Republic.  With Georgeen and Tom we visited Croatia. The four of us also went on trips to Ireland and Panama together.  In Ireland, there was tons of walking and even though Harry was 12 years older than me, I struggled to stay up with him!

Someone mentioned his trademark uproarious laugh.  It was great.  I remember that I told him a mildly amusing joke about accordions once.  He laughed so hard that everyone else in the room joined in.  His family had t-shirts with his face and "70" on them for his 70th birthday.  Before he turned 80, I told him that I knew a little secret... that his family was going to make jockey shorts with his face and "80" on them.  That solicited his big laugh once again.