I Just Lost A Good Friend

So Did The Dartmouth Class of '42


When we moved down here to our little island from Atlanta in 2004, we didn't at the time realize that our condo included not only 1500 square feet of space situated in the middle of a golf course, but that it also came with the friendship of the most wonderful friend and neighbor that anyone could ever ask for.

His name was Harlan "Bucky" Strader, born way back in 1920, and at the time widowed and living alone in the condo directly downstairs from our new home.

The day we moved in Bucky came by to introduce himself, and over the next couple of years we became very close friends as I generally spent time with him each and every morning, sitting around his kitchen table discussing the events of the prior day, watching "Imus in the morning" on TV and looking at the newspaper.

Several afternoons each week Pat and I would stop by downstairs to have wine and enjoy some fine brie cheese with him, and we frequently went out to lunch and dinner together--always appreciating his sense of humor and hating to see the effects time was taking on his ageing mind and body as he lost his ability to drive, and finally had to leave us to move back home to Connecticut to live closer to his family.

We managed to talk to him on the telephone every few months since his move from St. Simons island, and we took a trip last fall up to his part of the world to visit him, also enjoying getting to see his daughter and one of his sons--the tea merchant--again during our stay.

Things hadn't been going so well in the past few months for him, and Bucky decided to make his final move about 6:30 AM this morning. I just learned the news from his daughter Pam a few minutes ago and am still trying to process my own personal loss.

It's about like losing another grandfather...I think.

WWII veteran, business executive, husband, father, Gentleman, and overall connoisseur of Life, the world has lost yet another great man with the passing of our dear friend Bucky.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Strader...