Neal Vonada

(December, 1926 - April, 2008)
http://www.qagrizzlies.org/Features/Profiles/Vonada_profile.htm

I met Neal on MPositive. I was looking for a place to enjoy folks who seek to always look up and look forward – not always easy! In Neal, however, I found a kindred spirit who not only walked the talk, but who had endless stories from a life rich in positivity. He was not only committed, but also on a mission to bring his perspective to the world.

Neal once named me Word Weaver after reading a post of mine. I loved the name – he had that effect. He encouraged my attempts to bring positivity to my peers and my patients, and he urged me to expand my horizons without fear, as he himself had done. He reached across a continent and touched me, adding a little more gold to my life. I grew because of him.

I will miss Neal, yet I can't bring myself to bask in my own grief over this man's passing. It would disappoint him. Instead, I acknowledge my loss and then I look around to see who I can bring his legacy to in this moment. As he would desire. For as long as I am able to reach out with our message, he will still be touching this world.

Neal often told the story of how he would get babies to stop crying in various public places. Such a simple gift to give the mother, such a fitting image for Grandpatime, a superhero of simple things who appeared from nowhere and shared happiness. I wrote this haiku for him and, to me, it summarizes all things Neal:

When the baby cried
And the mother wanted to,
His smile was welcomed.

Thank you,

Darrell G. King
Rochester, NY, US