Hi Rob, Prato, DJ & others from “the old forum!” I learned of Gary’s passing this week and remain shocked & deeply saddened. We communicated via text fairly frequently. Our topics typically focused on sports: UGA Dawgs, Miami Dolphins, Florida Gators and life in general. We stayed away from PCa topics about
90% of the time. We last communicated on Dec 7. I sent a text Monday AM & was delighted to receive a response. Sadly, Sylvia, his wonderful wife, informed me that Gary left this world on Dec 17. Gary never let on that he was in another battle. I can only suspect that the cause was not related to PCa.
The collective upside of our prostate cancer diagnoses is we have all been brought together in friendship bonded by a common connection! Gary told me that on a few past occasions the FL Band of PCa Brothers got together - Pratoman, Rob Lee & Old Tired Sailor I believe were participants. I had wanted to meet Gary one day & especially wanted to meet Sophie, his loyal canine!
F-4 fighter pilots were a unique group of heroes. I knew an orthopedic surgeon in South Carolina who flew F-4s while in the Air Force. He once said: “the F-4 pilots in Viet Nam would fly directly into the jaws of hell to complete a mission.” Thank you Gary for your service and commitment!
Whenever I see the Miami Dolphins, I will think of Gary and smile.
Requiescat in pace aeternum.
Gary’s last text on Dec 7:
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/1f/15/92545B1A-F1D7-4F98-BEA3-B0A8217D0DDA/IMG_4918.jpeg
Best to all PCa Brothers
Michael F
Post Edited (Michael F) : 1/18/2023 4:14:43 PM (GMT-8)