How I will miss Cousin Dave's welcoming and kind presence when I am able to visit Carbondale again. His sense of humor, his steadiness and his congeniality to me and my husband, Mike, were always comforting. Though born in Carbondale but never having lived there, I was unsettled to visit a place so familiar and yet so strange. On our visits, Cousin Dave and his dear brother, Steve, took the edge right off, greeting us, visiting with us and telling stories to catch up. Cousin Ruthie shared her bounty of rolls and pizza, as Cousins Patti and Judy, regaled us with fond memories of Aunt Sophie's dedication to her family and her generous heart. To me, Dave was very much the pater familias of the clan; he proudly wore that title and, from Cousin Rose Ellen's stories, bore with dignity and steadfastness the duties and hardships that came with the role, always there to help with machinery or hard work or a helping hand. Dave was a very good writer and, at one time, we had much interesting email correspondence to and fro. But in one's 50's, we believe that we will live forever, so I simply enjoyed our correspondence, not preserving it as the valuable stuff that it was. For me, Cousin Dave has always embodied the finest qualities of a proud, honorable and thoroughly decent man. Cousin Dave's absence leaves an ache and I am bereft not to be able to be there to say a proper goodbye.