[Dialogue] from Cynthia Vance

[John Patterson]

*From:* Dialogue [mailto:dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] *On Behalf
Of *Cynthia Vance via Dialogue
*Sent:* August-15-18 5:30 AM
*To:* dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net
*Cc:* Cynthia Vance
*Subject:* [Dialogue] from Cynthia Vance



Dear Friends and Colleagues,



My dear Bob passed away today, Monday, August 13.



On July 11 I enrolled him in Hospice at Home, due to his increasing
symptoms from (possibly) Lewy Body dementia and I cared for him since
then.  Last Sunday morning he awoke with extreme difficulties. The Hospice
nurse came and felt he probably had a 'neurological event' the Saturday
evening before, perhaps while sleeping.  She took him to the Venice Hospice
House at 6pm that night.



I visited him 90 minutes later. He was very calm but not very responsive. I
shared my reflections as I showed him 4 photos -- his parents, his brothers
Neil and Denny, our doxies Star and Matilda and finally Bob and me. I also
read two poems I had written (about the dogs!) and a love letter
highlighting and thanking him for the special times we shared as a team in
our community service/civil rights efforts, followed by our strategic
planning consulting, and finally in our various nature adventures.  We had
had these discussions before and had agreed that history had given us a
fine ride! – and that hopefully we made the world a little better.  He died
peacefully 5 hours later, 1:30 am, early Monday morning.



I’m grateful for the wonderful life and marriage we had.  I could ask for
no more. Our home was one of peace, love, respect, creative planning and
always in anticipation of our next birding or butterflying adventure.  He
was always kind to others and was a terrific partner in our life work
together!



Many of you, our colleagues over the years, wrote letters to him or
telephoned him in the past 10 days.  He was so pleased to hear from you and
I’m grateful that you reached out to us.  You shared your appreciation of
his life and brought us great joy.



My sister, Cecily, has been with me for 2 days and as an R.N. has given me
guidance during this journey. Other friends locally have compassionately
reached out to me.



Bob has donated his brain to the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank
to both confirm (or not) the diagnosis and to contribute to their
research.  We will be spreading his ashes in our Butterfly Garden and the
Gulf of Mexico where he proudly completed 990 SCUBA dives to collect
hundreds of vertebrate fossils.



Grace and Peace,



Cynthia

facilitationfla at aol.com

941-483-9165
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