Condolences for
Edward J. Fossett, Jr.

Uncle Ed

These days, I am constantly reminded by 2 lines from one of my favorite films, “Field of Dreams”.

“It’s my father…My God! I’d only seen him years later when he was worn down by life. Look at him. He’s got his whole life in front of him and I’m not even a glint in his eye. What do I say to him?”

“You know we just don’t recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they’re happening. Back then I thought, well, there’ll be other days. “

Not always. Sometimes the tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid. But those tears are sometimes an inappropriate response to death.

When a life has been lived completely honestly, completely successfully, or just completely, the correct response to death's perfect punctuation mark is a smile.

I have a much older friend, an old Philly neighbor, who now lives in Tampa who knew you when you were a young man. He and his twin brother played basketball with you in the alley between our Shelmire & Vista St homes.

I also have very early memories of you. Always smiling, Always gracious.

Our fathers were gods to us when we are very young, the measuring sticks of what it meant to be a man, and I never heard my own Dad say anything but good things about you.

I will always remember the Sunday trips my Dad took me on to visit with you and Aunt Margaret when I was growing up, and the short visits over the past few years, and I am very happy that you were a part of “my family”.

Ben