Mr. Leonard

Today I lost a friend.

Mr. Leonard was a co-worker of mine until three years ago. He was killed due to a car crash yesterday driving home from work. He was 76 years old, would have been 77 next week. He is survived by his lovely wife of almost 60 years, three children and two grandchildren. He was a good old Polish guy from South Baltimore who was a Korean War Navy veteran.
Mr. Leonard would spend every night at his kitchen table drinking 7 and 7's with his bride, talking to her about their days, and listening to 'the oldies' as he used to put it. The love of his life was his bride, his children, his grandchildren, and then Navy-Army football games every year. It was the "pageantry" as he used to say.

Mr. Leonard was old enough to be my grandfather. But instead, he was my friend. He taught me a lot about how to make a marriage work, and more importantly, last. He taught me that Joe Louis was an even greater fighter than the unstoppable Muhammad Ali. He taught me the truth about WWII and Vietnam, and said at the beginning of the Iraq War, "this is going to be a huge disaster. I've seen this before and it didn't turn out so good.". He taught me that the one thing, the only thing you have in this world is your "honor". He was an honorable man.

Mr. Leonard touched many lives. He touched mine. I am a better man today for having gotten to be in the presence of such a great man, and a great friend. A lot of people used to laugh and call our area of the office "the happy corner". They laughed because here was an old white guy and a young black kid talking about sports, politics, kids, wives, and life.

I hadn't talked to Mr. Leonard in a few months. When I got the call last night, I said to let him know I would be at the hospital today to see him. I got a call at work this morning that he was gone. I said a prayer, had a happy thought about my friend and then went on with my day. I called his wife tonight to send my condolences. That's when it hit me that he was gone. That's when the sadness set in. My heart is breaking for his bride, his "baby" as he used to call her. Sometimes your pain isn't as great as someonelses, and how could it be? They were together for 60 years.

Rest in peace Leonard Baublis, Mr. Leonard. I miss you dear friend, and you will never be far from my heart. May you walk with angels, and may you build a perfect corner in heaven for you and your bride. I'll see you when I get there.