On my way home from San Francisco, I stopped in Southern California. I headed for Orange County, and made it to Newport Beach. Normally, time spent in California is a little reward from the Texas heat. This time, it was nearly 100-degrees. In addition, the reason for the visit was to attend a family funeral. Before going into that, I wanted to share some pictures of the Newport Beach LDS Temple. This is a sacred building to members of my faith. We consider these to literally be houses of the Lord. Each one is unique, and the Newport Beach Temple is a beautiful example of using local architectural flourishes.
I was lucky enough to be there with my father and two aunts. I love spending time with family...and this is truly the silver lining to any family funeral. The three siblings posed in front of the temple:
As I indicated, we were all there to honor and celebrate the life of a member of our family. His name is Ron Robison. I can honestly say that this man was loved by a large number of people. He was truly unique, and the funeral was one of the best I've ever attended.
Uncle Ron with his wife Susan
Uncle Ron in 1961, right before he served a two-year mission for our church
Growing up, Uncle Ron always reminded me of Dick Van Dyke. Stare at the 1961 picture for awhile, and you'll see what I mean ; ) He was the kind of person that would literally light up a room when he entered. When you had a conversation with him - it felt like you were the only person in the world to him. He made you feel like a million bucks. His laugh was unmistakeable - especially when he was teasing you ; )
He was close to my father, as they were cousins. As adults, they spent a lot of time talking with each other - usually about business, basketball, or their respective assignments in church. They both served as Bishops at the same time - with plenty to talk about ; )
He was unique in his service to others. Especially when he didn't seek recognition for helping other people. This became very clear during the funeral, when stories emerged of his selflessness...things nobody had shared before, out of respect for his humility. His ability to strike up conversations with anyone at anytime was legendary. This is a man who reached lofty heights in the business world, heading up some notable financial institutions while living in Manhattan. Yet, he didn't judge or look down on anyone. We should all take notes on this part of his life.
Two unique things that you should know about Ron. First, he lived just a few blocks from the World Trade Center in NY. His office at Morgan Stanley was right in the middle of that area of NY. Ron was a tireless worker and even if he was returning from overseas, he was at his office bright and early. You could bank on it. On September 10, 2001 - Ron returned from an overseas business trip and arrived really late that night. The next morning, he decided not to go to the office. This was shocking to his wife. However, after the events of 9/11 unfolded that morning, it was clear that our Heavenly Father had other plans for Ron, and spared his life from that tragedy. I'm still amazed when I tell that story.
Second, Ron was diagnosed with multiple myeloma - this is basically a cancer of the bone marrow. Originally, he wasn't given too long to live. He survived TEN YEARS with this cancer. He was lucky enough to live in NY, where several advanced techniques involving stem cells helped to extend his life. He never took this for granted. I was lucky enough to visit with him numerous times, while I lived in Boston. Either my wife and I traveled to Manhattan, or he was visiting his oldest son who lived near us. I learned a lot by watching him go through this terrible disease. However, family meant the world to him, and he fought to have more time with them.
I could go on and on. Literally. I think you understand how much I loved and respected this man. I'm really glad that my wife was able to meet him and understand why so many people loved him. He was and is a special part of our family. I pray that I live a life that in some way will generate the kind of funeral service that this man was given. It really makes me stop and think about how much more I can help people - how much more I can show my family and friends that I love them. This is probably the best way to show how much I loved Uncle Ron....
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