People we know/knew. Preferably from the area, but not necessarily.

I don't have time to post one, but I didn't want the thought to drift.

Bob Slater. Humanitarian.

He lived in South Orange when I knew him. I'm going to guess that he was maybe 5 or 10 years older than I was. Slight of build, and born physically handicapped, I don't think he ever drove a car but took D.L.& W (later NJ trans) to where he wanted to go. Some of his leisure time was spent at the duck pond behind S.O. Junior High. I don't know if he was kidding or not, but he said he could identify individual ducks. Maybe he could.

This story gets a little mixed up and it's about 35 years old and memory gets a bit fuzzy when you get into your dotage, but I'll do my best to honor him.

Bob was "white." He liked hanging with Black people - Newark, East Orange, Orange. So his efforts to improve society, were focused on improving things for Blacks. The most creative of these was "Night Camp." Suburban kids had sleep away camp and day camp. Urban kids had none or little of that. So, in conjunction with the Orange recreation department, he arranged for a park to be opened and lit during evening hours. 

But in addition to the expected pastimes of basketball, board games and such, Bob and his volunteers offered classes towards G.E.D. diplomas. Quite a few kids owed their GED's and even college degrees to Bob's night school. More of that, later.

As I said, Bob liked to hang with Black people. This included spending time in local urban bars where he became well known and appreciated for his efforts on behalf of kids. Bars can involve fights and once or twice, there were times that became legend. Arguments were beginning that looked like they might become physical altercations. As I wrote, Bob was physically handicapped. So when It looked like an argument might escalate, the antagonists would be interrupted so that Bob would be taken outside so as not to be injured. Then the dispute would continue. By this time, tempers would cool.

It was at Brick Church Station that Bob was the victim of a mugging, He spent time in hospital, where he was asked if he wanted to press charges if the assailant was found. Bob figured that an arrest and conviction would lead to nothing but a downward spiral for the kid. So he asked his friends to find the kid and bring him to the hospital room. A couple of days later, the kid was escorted to Bob's hospital room. 

He was presented with the option of charges being filed for assault and battery or attending "Night Camp" to earn a G.E.D. The kid chose night camp and earned his G.E.D.

It was years later, that a dinner was held in the Ironbound section of Newark, to honor Bob for the work he did. The evening was filled with graduates of Night Camp who earned G.E.D.s, technical diplomas and college degrees. These people told their stories about their time with Bob and their appreciation for how he changed their lives.

But to me, the most memorable expression of love for Bob, was when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was in Orange Memorial hospital. This was pre-hospice so comfort and aid in dying was an afterthought. Bob was sedated and was trying to get out of bed, much to the consternation of the staff. A visitor was told that he would be put in restraints unless someone would be there to keep him in the bed.

A schedule of volunteers was arranged to have someone with Bob, 24 hours a day, until he passed. The schedule of time slots was filled within hours and for several days, Bob had someone in his room.

His wake - Every pew in the church was filled.

I still think of him from time to time and I still miss him.

I remember Bob fondly and 
going waaay back we grew up one house apart in West Caldwell though he was at least a dozen years older and we met and became friends years later. 

He was a total mensch and I loved him