The Obituater!

"Don't think your life is any more insignificant than anyone else's!"

It was an odd way
to start each day,
at least in the beginning,
wondering then asking
who died, 
particularly 
yesterday or today.

Tom Vartabedian died on Nov 12, 2016, with his loving family by his side following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 76.

But that's what he did,
for decades,
four or more of them,
keeping tabs
on the lives and passing
of the local esteemed
as well as those 
who were quieter 
and lower key. 

He tracked down the facts,
talked to the family and to friends,
seeking to better understand
their time here, 
then aligned the words
and the sentences 
to shape their last 
and lasting stories
and provide due justice
to their lives.

He took great pride 
in his work,
took great care 
in telling the stories 
of the dead,
in getting it right and fair,
fully conveying the warmth 
and love that was theirs.

He told their stories,
thousands of them,
of teachers, preachers, and housekeepers,
of homemakers and business leaders,
of bankers and bakers,
of doctors and nurses,
of lawyers and laymen,
of barbers and bartenders.  

In the end, 
he had simple advice:
Get ahead of it,
write it yourself,
don't leave it to chance,
no one knows you better than you,
no one other than you knows what's most important to you,
and don't think your life's any more insignificant than anyone else's!

--------------------------------

Hear, hear!

In memory and honor of Tom Vartabedian, who I had the good fortune of knowing and working with for a couple of years at The Haverhill (Massachusetts, USA) Gazette.

RIP Vart!

Check out Tom's story here.