Remembering Harvey...

Harvey & Rita, Nicole's Bat Mitzvah, 2007

The very first thing I can tell you about Harvey is that he was the slowest eater...ever. We would be into the next meal, and Harvey was still on 'yesterday'. He had the bluest eyes, which, if you really looked, were as deep as the ocean blue, leading to 'the heart' of his very soul. He was extraordinarily kind and patient. He adored my cousin Rita, and their wedding, 20 years ago, was truly one of the most joyous I have ever had the pleasure to witness. And then there is Nicole. Nicole is 17 now, a beautiful, lovely young woman. Harvey adored Nicole as well, but the way he fathered her is what we will all remember the most. It was that same patience and sweetness, his being so present, right there by her side, every step of the way, is what we trust and pray, she will remember the most. I recall, one summer were were visiting them, Nicole was about 5. It was a scorching hot day, (somewhat like today) and we went to the 'Y' to go swimming. It was a large, outdoor pool. Nicole was hooked on that low diving board, and about 100 times that day, she said to me 'Amy look, Amy look', as she gleefully, with all abandon, jumped into the cool water. Harvey, just looked on, with that glimmer in those very blue eyes, smiling on the inside, because Nicole was so happy.

Harvey lost his valiant, 19 month battle with pancreatic cancer this past Wednesday. My heart, our collective hearts are just broken. I know that the world is still spinning, and that life marches on, but right now, my love and thoughts are spinning, spinning, spinning around Rita and Nicole.

We pray comfort, so much comfort, and know, we are all the richer, so much richer, because Harvey made it so.