Saturday, July 10, 2021
John,
Your dad spoke so highly of you every time we got together that I feel I know you even though we never met. I am so sorry for your loss. I had a sinking feeling in my heart for the past couple weeks, not hearing from your father because we communicated frequently, especially since the pandemic. After calling Bob's phone multiple times without success, I approached the realization that he may have succumbed to the illness we discussed on Memorial Day weekend when he answered his phone from the hospital. I was deeply saddened when I read of his passing after looking up his name online.
Bob was my mentor at West Chemical when I joined the laboratory as a green chemist during my junior year of college. We had similar interests and shared similar philosophies even back then, which strengthened our friendship. We lost touch for a while after the chemical plant closed, when he went to New Jersey and I pursued my passion for forensic science, but with his superior and tenacious internet skills, he found out that I coincidentally moved to a nearby town in PA. I was fortunate to have been able to rekindle our friendship as PA neighbors and we enjoyed many visits together. Even though retired, Bob was still eager to answer my chemistry questions, for which I will be eternally grateful.
I will miss Bob dearly, my friend and mentor. Feel free to contact me via email at "pedicoplanb@gmail.com" if there is anything I can do, since I am only a couple towns away (for example, Bob used to swing by my house to check on it and take in my mail if I wasn't home for a long time). I will make a donation in Bob's name to St Jude.
Again, my sincere condolences.
Pete
