It was chilly but quite clear today and we wanted to be out and about, so this afternoon we explored the large sculpture garden about a mile from our flat. We took lots of pictures which we'll show later.
We got home to find emails that our friend, Art Pollock, had died from complications of his surgery. We met Art because he was one of the "boys". I think one of the original boys. This group of men started meeting weekly for dinner when they were just young guys and continue today. The size of the group is pretty much dependent upon the size of Jim Switzer's dining room table, because he cooks most every Wednesday, and Del was asked to join them after the early death of another of the boys. Some of the boys come from the University of Akron and some from other professions, but all are opinionated, funny and ready to talk about politics and the world as they saw it.
I always told Art, and Joan, that they were two of the busiest retired people I ever met. He served on UA Library Friends Board, the city RTA Board, his Condo Association board and worked in other ways to make Akron a good place to live.
Jim and Gretchen, Art and Joan and Del and I started having dinner from time to time and we thoroughly enjoyed them. Art always had a twinkle in his eye, and what I would call a clever, dry sense of humor. I hope that describes it properly. He and Joan knew how much we enjoy the company of children and were kind enough to include us in several family events - dinner, trips to Blossom and my favorite, a trip to the zoo with the little boys. It would have been hard to find a prouder granddaddy than Art Pollock, or grandmother than Joan.
The Pollocks also did another other really nice thing for us. I really don't remember the circumstances exactly, but they introduced us to their friends, Bill and Marianne, whom we have truly enjoyed.
Some of you who are reading this have known Art and Joan so much better than we do, and for decades longer, but I certainly count getting to know them as a blessing.
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