Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Michael Welsh
Thanks to Herb Reynolds and, by receiving copies of the memories and condolences sent by other Brothers, I too, received the sad news of Bob’s passing.
I occasionally did some work in Morrin Ab, which is not far from Hanna. On one trip, in about 1988, there was a meeting in Hanna, so I decided to get in touch with Bob, although we had not been in touch for more than 20 years, we had a great phone call, that lasted more than 45 minutes. Full of laughter and memories of our Fraternity days, and law class antics. We both commented that all of “the old guys..” should get together. Bob’s comment was “laughter, friendships and memories and more get togethers are good for the soul…” Nothing to further these thoughts was done.
Fast forward to 2002, I was spending a few days in the U of A hospital. I was in one of those 2 bed rooms, closest to the window with a curtain dividing the room and blocking my view of the door and my neighbour patient. I then heard a voice say “ you are not Mike Welsh”. I thought that the voice was familiar, but could not put a name to it. The neighbour said “I think he is in the next bed”.
The other voice (Bob’s), said “is he still alive, I hope so, because as soon as I heard, I rushed right over”. Bob then sat and talked with the neighbour for 10+ minutes and had him laughing about some of the happenings in past years. I had not seen Bob yet, but knew who it was from the stories being told. After about 10 minutes, Bob said “keep holding on Mike, I’m coming. “. By then all 3 of us and a nurse who had come in to listen, were probably close to tears from laughing. After he came into my side of the room, we pulled back the dividing curtain, so the neighbour and some passing, but interested medical staff, could join in with their laughter.
It turned out that Bob had come to visit someone else, and while waiting at the Info desk to find out that person’s room #, heard the person in front of him mention my name. After his other visit, he came to my room, stayed more than an hour, and brought laughter to a number of us.
He was one of a kind!!!!
