Here's Leo's
obituary
I made it to the viewing Thursday and got to attend the funeral on Friday. I wasn't able to go to the graveside because we had to get across the pass on I-8 and we were afraid they were going to close due to the weather.
What I did was fly into Phoenix Thursday morning and pick up my father. I rented a car and drove to El Cajon and then drove back to Phoenix after the funeral. When we went through the pass it was snowing something fierce. We didn't have chains. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif (rented car)
The service was very special. After the preacher did his spiel the floor was open anyone who wanted to speak. A lot was said. His son, his step son, and his co-workers all stood up.
The consensus seemed to be Leo was loved very deeply by everyone who entered his sphere of influence.
As I listened a private message I'd gotten here on TBN kept going through my mind. Since they sent it to me privately I won't divulge who sent it. But what they said is worth quoting.
"
Harv,
My condolences on the loss of your good friend Leo to cancer. I lost my "big brother" Rob, my only other sibling, on Feb 2 after a 2 year battle with bladder cancer. It broke my heart to watch him stumble and fall, eventually slipping from our lives. On January 20th, I left my brothers bedside after saying my words to him and kissing him on the cheek. I had been away for 3 weeks and it was time to fly back to Dallas to be with my expectant wife and our 2 year old. It was the loneliest I've felt in my entire life as I left my brother for the last time.
My wife and I had 5 words in our wedding vows that we use to guide our lives. They're also signified in the 5 diamonds in my wedding band to give me a constant reminder for why we're on this earth. They are LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE, LEARN and Leave a LEGACY. I know that my brothers legacy is alive with me as I strive to be the person he was to so many. I'm sure your memories of Leo do the same for you.
As my 85 year old neighbor said when he visited to extend his sympathy "Be thankful that you had someone in your life that you'll miss that much".
My heartfelt condolences and may God watch over you and your family
As I sat there listening to one after another talk about his influence upon them I couldn't help but put their "5 L's" and Leo's life's legacy together.
I was the last one to speak.
I quoted the private message and expressed how much I was going to miss my friend. I think everyone there agreed with me about his greatest gift to us was his belief in us. He had faith we were greater than we thought possible. And his faith in us made us have faith in ourselves.
What a legacy.
I lost a good friend. I'm going to miss him terribly.
