I met Bob in 1964 when we were both entering 7th grade at Beachwood. We were not in any of the same classes together but thanks to homeroom, we developed a friendship and went on to become best friends. We spent a lot of time together and played together in the same rock bands from 1966-1968. The teenage years and high school can be a complicated and tumultuous time. As a result, we abruptly drifted apart after 10th grade (1968), only coming together for high school tennis and the occasional random meeting at social events. The last time I saw Bob, in person, was December, 1974 at Darryl Berk’s house. Given the closeness of the Beachwood Class of 1970, we were aware of each other's personal and career accomplishments throughout the years.
In my opinion, Bob's best qualities were his courage and self-confidence. Whether easy or challenging, it got him through everything. For example, he would confide in me that he wanted to date a certain girl that was seemingly out of his league. I would tell him to forget it and two months later, they were together.
Although our friendship went through a tumultuous time and ultimately ended in us parting ways, I knew we secretly still cared about each other and that we thought about each other. How do I know this? About a year or two after high school, I was outside shooting baskets at our house on Fairmount Blvd. Bob zoomed by in his little red car. At the moment Bob turned his head to see if anyone was around, I, by chance, was looking out onto the street in the exact same direction. Caught in ambush, our eyes met in a powerful moment of vulnerability that revealed both the sorrow and affection that we felt for a lost friendship. It was simply too painful to rehash or repair. Recounting the wisdom of author Yasmina Khadra, “There are silences that should never be disturbed.”
Bob was an important person in my past and I am sure he holds a special place in the hearts of many of our classmates. I hope you will join me in mourning Bob’s passing.
Jed Davis
I met Bob in 1964 when we were both entering 7th grade at Beachwood. We were not in any of the same classes together but thanks to homeroom, we developed a friendship and went on to become best friends. We spent a lot of time together and played together in the same rock bands from 1966-1968. The teenage years and high school can be a complicated and tumultuous time. As a result, we abruptly drifted apart after 10th grade (1968), only coming together for high school tennis and the occasional random meeting at social events. The last time I saw Bob, in person, was December, 1974 at Darryl Berk’s house. Given the closeness of the Beachwood Class of 1970, we were aware of each other's personal and career accomplishments throughout the years.
In my opinion, Bob's best qualities were his courage and self-confidence. Whether easy or challenging, it got him through everything. For example, he would confide in me that he wanted to date a certain girl that was seemingly out of his league. I would tell him to forget it and two months later, they were together.
Although our friendship went through a tumultuous time and ultimately ended in us parting ways, I knew we secretly still cared about each other and that we thought about each other. How do I know this? About a year or two after high school, I was outside shooting baskets at our house on Fairmount Blvd. Bob zoomed by in his little red car. At the moment Bob turned his head to see if anyone was around, I, by chance, was looking out onto the street in the exact same direction. Caught in ambush, our eyes met in a powerful moment of vulnerability that revealed both the sorrow and affection that we felt for a lost friendship. It was simply too painful to rehash or repair. Recounting the wisdom of author Yasmina Khadra, “There are silences that should never be disturbed.”
Bob was an important person in my past and I am sure he holds a special place in the hearts of many of our classmates. I hope you will join me in mourning Bob’s passing.
Jed Davis
Marci Koenig (Kulberg)
Beautifully said.