Juan, Jimmy, Jim, Dan, Stephen
Last November we lost a good friend, a decent, fun-loving, kind and generous man who left us all too soon. I will always remember his kindness over the years, the many festive dinners that Juan prepared at "Olay" for groups of friends, the occasions when he joined Dan and I for our annual anniversary dinners out, more than once picking up the tab, and the intimate pre-and-post season quiet times that we occasionally spent together at each other's homes here in Cherry Grove. Juan loved to plant Coleus in his garden, but just as they cannot survive a harsh, cold winter, Juan was unable to survive the often life-saving but difficult and traumatic procedures intended to help him overcome his illness. According to a Chinese proverb: "The saddest thing is the death of the heart." While we are saddened that Juan's physical heart was not strong enough to carry him through at the end, we can take great comfort that his wonderful spiritual bigheartedness lives on in the fond memories of his many friends.
