My uncle Irv comments
There was a time set aside in Uncle Irv's wonderful memorial service for comments from anyone who wanted to share. (Uncle Gary, also a schoolteacher, told us afterwards that Irv had insisted "Make sure they're quick. Two minutes max, or you take a zero." Some of us would have taken a zero on the assignment.) During the time leading up to the service, I scribbled down thoughts on the program about what I'd like to say. Here's a rough transcript of what I said:
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First off, I'd like to say that Uncle Irv was the uncle-est of the uncles. No offense to the other uncles gathered here, but Uncle Irv was what being an uncle was all about. When there was a wiffle ball game to be had, Uncle Irv was there. And I'm just glad he got to see his beloved White Sox win the series.
I wanted to say something about how he had such love and respect for everyone, and then I heard all these other people saying the same thing. Silly me thinking I'd be the only one to notice. It shows in everyone who's here filling this room, and it especially shows in his kids, Eric and Danielle. Irv always made me feel like I was important as a kid, and as I grew older, he made me feel like an adult.
Fourth of July was the Irv holiday. No matter where we were watching the parade, people would come up and see him. Everyone loved Irv, and he loved everyone.
I've also always loved Irv's fashion sense. Jeans and a t-shirt! Can't beat that!
I remember early getting an Irv lesson in commitment, when I asked about his POW/MIA bracelets. He explained that they were guys who were lost in Viet Nam, and that he was going to wear them until they came home. I was amazed. "What if they never get found?" "Then I'll wear them until I'm dead." "You take them off in the shower, right?" "Nope, I never take them off." I was amazed at his level of commitment, and to a couple of guys he'd never met.
Some of you may know that Danielle is pregnant, and that they've named their daughter Liberty Grace. They didn't mean to, but it's funny how they've named their third daughter after Irv. "Liberty" was what Irv was all about. He was about doing your own thing, even if it wasn't popular, and supporting what others wanted to do as well. And as for "Grace", well, I've never seen anyone die with as much grace as Irv did. Maybe Johnny Cash, or Warren Zevon, two comparisons with which I'm sure he'd approve.
The last time I saw him, he was in the hospital. It was the 2nd time I'd visited him, and it was time for me to go. He was lying in bed, on a lot of painkillers, and about to go to sleep. I held his hand, which was about all he could do, and I said "I'll tell you what I tell my daughter Quinn every night, 'I love you, and have a good sleep.'" Well, I do love Irv, and I know now that he's having a good sleep.
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First off, I'd like to say that Uncle Irv was the uncle-est of the uncles. No offense to the other uncles gathered here, but Uncle Irv was what being an uncle was all about. When there was a wiffle ball game to be had, Uncle Irv was there. And I'm just glad he got to see his beloved White Sox win the series.
I wanted to say something about how he had such love and respect for everyone, and then I heard all these other people saying the same thing. Silly me thinking I'd be the only one to notice. It shows in everyone who's here filling this room, and it especially shows in his kids, Eric and Danielle. Irv always made me feel like I was important as a kid, and as I grew older, he made me feel like an adult.
Fourth of July was the Irv holiday. No matter where we were watching the parade, people would come up and see him. Everyone loved Irv, and he loved everyone.
I've also always loved Irv's fashion sense. Jeans and a t-shirt! Can't beat that!
I remember early getting an Irv lesson in commitment, when I asked about his POW/MIA bracelets. He explained that they were guys who were lost in Viet Nam, and that he was going to wear them until they came home. I was amazed. "What if they never get found?" "Then I'll wear them until I'm dead." "You take them off in the shower, right?" "Nope, I never take them off." I was amazed at his level of commitment, and to a couple of guys he'd never met.
Some of you may know that Danielle is pregnant, and that they've named their daughter Liberty Grace. They didn't mean to, but it's funny how they've named their third daughter after Irv. "Liberty" was what Irv was all about. He was about doing your own thing, even if it wasn't popular, and supporting what others wanted to do as well. And as for "Grace", well, I've never seen anyone die with as much grace as Irv did. Maybe Johnny Cash, or Warren Zevon, two comparisons with which I'm sure he'd approve.
The last time I saw him, he was in the hospital. It was the 2nd time I'd visited him, and it was time for me to go. He was lying in bed, on a lot of painkillers, and about to go to sleep. I held his hand, which was about all he could do, and I said "I'll tell you what I tell my daughter Quinn every night, 'I love you, and have a good sleep.'" Well, I do love Irv, and I know now that he's having a good sleep.