Thursday, January 22, 2009

Phil Bauer - The man with the always open door

They say that once in a lifetime you meet a person that will forever change your life. Someone who touches your heart to a degree that is indescribable. As much as many of us would like to admit, we are not products solely of our parents rising. Instead, we are a product of those we meet in life, those who become part of our life, and those who take more than a moment to make a lasting impression. Today, I can honestly say that in some way or another, we are products of Phil Bauer.

A great man is not just someone who spouts wisdom, tells great jokes, and respects those who are around him. A great man, instead, is someone who shares wisdom with you, someone who makes you laugh, and someone who genuinely cares, without reservations, about almost anyone they meet. Phil was an overly silly, completely happy, joke-telling, sometimes dorky, amazingly kind, hat wearing, family cherishing, dancing fool. Phil was a great man.

When you were friends with the Bauer’s, there was never a dull moment. Like the time that there was an actual race from Foster Lake in Sweethome back to the house in Philomath. When Phil would find out you had a crush on someone and decided that they ought to know. And let me just say that any man who wears a Gorilla mask, wraps bananas in tin foil and comes screaming down the hallway when the kids are watching horror movies…that’s a man you’ll never forget.

As we give our condolences, I’d like to avoid using the word goodbye because by the grace of God, we will see him again and Kathy you will be able to have another dance. Phil may be with the Lord, but he is not gone. You see, Phil has left such an impact on hundreds of children over the years, that he will never be gone. The lessons that he taught us, the wisdom that he shared, the love that he gave is passed from him, to us, to our children. So Phil will always stay alive in those memories, those stories and that wisdom.

Phil was a great man. And I feel blessed that I was able to be touched by even an ounce of the love flowed from him. I loved and will always love you Phil.
Thank you for all that you've done.

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