My memories of Pete

In working with Pete the last 2 years I have gained a very close friend. Most of my work friends are just that - work friends. It doesn't transcend into personal friendship very often. With Pete, it was easy. The two of us found out that we had a lot more in common than just our dad's knowing each other.

This year, Pete became my partner in the company golf league. A memorable story or two there would be when the league cancelled due to rain and Pete and I snuck out onto the course anyways, playing perhaps the fastest 9 holes ever! The following week, when I hit my ball into a tree (not uncommon), he helped me look for it for a solid 10 minutes. We finally saw it... stuck high up in the actual tree. I told Pete I was determined to get that ball back after looking so hard. He shrugged his shoulders and hoisted me up into the tree to get it back!

It seemed like we were both going through the same stages in life. We always had a lot to talk about - especially when it meant getting away from the cube! Whether it be taking an extra fifteen minutes for lunch, taking an extended afternoon break in the cafeteria, or when (almost like clockwork) Pete would come over at 4:30 and say "I can't take it anymore. I can’t look at that computer anymore." Whatever we talked about, Pete was always a great listener and was very understanding. No matter what the situation was he would say, "Oh I understand. I understand." He always made you feel comfortable and could always lighten the mood with one of his smart-ass remarks!

Ok, I know this is getting long but I wanted to share the most recent memory I have of Pete. It was a week ago today when I was leaving for a wedding in Florida. It was the first wedding I had been to for people my age. Knowing Pete was a veteran of weddings (and what to wear to them), I went to him for advice on the rehearsal dinner. I told him I was thinking of wearing seersucker pants since it was a beach wedding. He agreed, and raised me one. He said he had bought a seersucker suit that would be perfect and that he had never worn it but that I should wear it. I mean, who does that? He hadn't even worn it once! Well I took him up on it and I wore it, and it broke my heart to unpack it after the weekend, but I will always remember Pete for that and for all the other things he did that made him a great friend. He truly was a selfless person and a genuine friend. I'm glad to have known him and will always remember him.

I love ya Pete!