As you get older, death becomes more familiar. In the early days, death was rare, but now well into the second half of life, the death of loved ones is more frequent and still very sad. Today, I heard about the death of a colleague I worked with for years. He was a beloved teacher who touched many, many lives in significant ways. He was a loving husband, father, family member, and friend to many--the kind of guy that you thought would live forever. As I think about this loss for so many, I can't imagine how difficult it was for him to say goodbye to the children he loved so deeply, the career he dedicated himself to with passion and purpose, his wife who he always cherished, and the many, many lives he inspired. It was a long battle in the end, and as I do with all who pass, I want to take some strength from his life to bring forward. For me, I always greatly valued the care and dedication he showed to individual students as well as his own children. He thought deeply about them and did what he could to empower and enrich their lives. I'll do the same. Blessings to all whose lives he touched with such great strength and inspiration. I wish you peace at this very sad time.