“Meaningful friendships endure even as the years roll by and contact wanes. Bruce was always my friend even though we hadn’t seen each other for more than two decades. We were hopeful of attending our 50th high school reunion last July. Unfortunately, a setback for Bruce in his cancer fight didn’t make that possible. He did make it back to New York State later last year and I’m thankful for that. I live in Atlanta and Bruce stayed with us while attending a real estate conference in the early 1990s. It was a good trip for Bruce. As a meeting door price, he won a free one-year lease on a new car. Bruce was one happy realtor. I will always remember his smile and laugh. I don’t recall how we first became friends in high school, but I’m very grateful we did. We graduated from junior college together in Jamestown and then went our separate ways to finish our degrees and start our careers, but we were part of each other’s wedding. It was heartbreaking to hear the news of Bruce’s cancer and I wish I had made a trip to Texas to see him. I know, though, how blessed he felt to have the constant support of his children, friends and, of course, Carolyn. Good-bye, good friend.”