My plan last Tuesday (September 22) was for an early morning run along the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota. Monday's weather in the southeast created an interruption in my plans. Flights scheduled for late afternoon shifted to early evening, then to early evening, then to late evening and finally to cancelled. My plan to travel to Duluth resulted in an evening at home.
Back up four days and a trip to Duluth was not part of my plan. Sadly, the father of a friend died suddenly. Larry Smith a good friend whom I have met along the way. Larry's dad, Bob, passed away at the age of 87. My plan was to attend the memorial service on Tuesday, an experience I considered much more important than any run.
I wrote that Larry is a good friend, I meant great...as in a great friend. Larry was born and raised in Duluth, graduated from the United States Military Academy, and has two daughters in the same age range as our two daughters. Larry and I played on an adult hockey team in Plano, Texas, which produced numerous post-game chats outside a 7-11 while drinking Gatorade. For a time, we watched our daughters play soccer, attended the same church, learned together, and laughed together. Now, it was time to cry together
As a backdrop, in June 2008, our entire family traveled to Duluth. We drove from a meeting in Chicago, through Wisconsion, in to Minneapolis and on north to Duluth. The trip centered around my running in the Grandma's Marathon, which is a wonderful event held annually in Duluth. Better than the Marathon was the time we spent with the extended Smith family. We stayed with Larry's parents, met his brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, visited with friends and neighbors, slept at their lake cabin and swam in a rather frigid Minnesota lake.
Below is the obituary for Bob Smith. It is one of those great American stories. He was born on the Fourth of July. Fought in World War II. Returned home to raise a family. Was a member of Duluth's fire departement. Retired, and lived well in retirement. And he died on the day of his 67th weddking anniversary.
I'm sorry my plans were interrupted, but you'll see why I am grateful to have met Larry's dad, Robert J. Smith. By the way, the spirit you see in the picture is the greatest memory I have of Bob Smith.
Published September 22 2009
ROBERT JOSEPH SMITH
Robert Joseph Smith, 87, Duluth, died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 on his 67th wedding anniversary from an injury received from a bicycling accident on the Munger trail. He died at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded by his family.
Bob Smith was born on July 4, 1922 in Duluth, to Teresa and James Smith.
He graduated from Central High School and was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
He married Virginia Hagberg on Sept. 19, 1942.
Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years during World War II and participated in major campaigns in Iwo Jima, Guam, the Philippines and Okinawa.
He retired as an assistant chief from the Duluth Fire Department in 1987.
He was active in the Fire Fighters Union; Treasurer of the Fire Fighters Relief Association and served as President of the Retired Fire Fighter Association. He was a member of the VFW, IAFF, IAFC, LAL, and the Elks.
Foremost, he loved to spend time with his family but also enjoyed fishing, hunting, bicycling, gardening and cabin activities.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Bob is survived by his wife, Virginia; five sons, Bob (Marilyn) Eaton, Colo., Mark (Ann) Lexington, S.C., Patrick, St. Paul, Larry (Wendy) Austin, Texas, Greg (Kari) Duluth; and one daughter, Colleen Johnson (Gordy) Duluth; a brother, Jim (Marie) Duluth; 14 grandchildren, 9 ½ great grandchildren and three nieces and a nephew.
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