Dear Mom, this page is our gift to you.

It is our dedication to an outstanding father, who we will miss all the days of our lives. He embraced his life as he embraced his family -- with joy, and with love. We will miss his stories and his wisdom. We'll miss his hugs, easy smiles and laughter. Mostly we'll miss his company.

His love for us is his legacy. It lives in us every day. And we will do our very best to carry on by his, and your extraordinary example.

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Willard Revaz - 13 Scott Road, Oxford, CT 06478
Saturday, May 27 2006

First met "Robbie" in the 5th grade at North School in Torrington and found that he lived just down the road from me in Burrville. We rode the bus together all through grammar school in Torringford until he moved to Campville. Would always enjoy reminiscing at the THS reunions and he always had a joke to relate to our antics as young boys. I remember his widowed mother, Nora, and the Savapolos grandparents who lived with her. Could not believe that the 1999 reunion would be his last and didn't know of his passing until at the 2004 reunion. Way too soon for one GREAT guy and good friend.

Dad Every time I hold my children close, or squeeze their hand, I think of you. When I beam with pride for their every achievement, great or small, I am reminded of you. When I tuck my children into bed, and pull their covers tightly over their shoulders, your memory is with me. It is easy to show my love to my children because of the love you showed me. You cannot be here, but your love lives and breathes in me, in my children, in every soul your life has touched. Thank you, Dad.

I know that you are leading that choir in heaven! We miss you! Merry Christmas!

When we first met "Robby" during our college years, we knew that he was a very special person with the qualities of a true leader. Way back then, as president of his PKA fraternity, he coaxed and cajoled his brothers to seek personal satisfaction in new adventures which extended well beyond the normal academic goals of college students. For example, his inspiration explained why a fire engine sat proudly on our fraternity's front lawn.During the past decade we accumulated many great memories during our ski trips with Rob and Pat, all due to his initial suggestion that we "head out West to tackle that Salt Lake City powder." Whether it was at Park City, Snowbird, Purgatory, Keystone, or Heavenly Valley, as we rode up on the lifts, Robby would often pick out the most challenging ski trails beneath us; then he would proclaim that we could handle them. Perhaps most memorable of all were the two days we spent in Telluride, Colorado enjoying both the slopes and the heated swimming pool while a gentle snowstorm blanketed the resort. There he fell in love with a very long and challenging trail named "See Forever." We would like to remember him at the head of that trail poised to lead us joyfully down to the village below.

Here's a silly story about my dad. Anyone who knew my dad will be able to picture this happening to him very easily. We were at Duchess, waiting at the counter after we had ordered our lunch. As the fries were being loaded onto the tray, my dad started snacking on them. They were half done before all the food was trayed up and the Duchess employee hollered out, "Order #25". A gentleman approached the counter and took his tray of food....you know the rest...it was the same tray my dad had been eating off of!

First I must thank the Robertson "kids" for organizing this extraordinary tribute - and for inviting me to share in it. Although my connection to Larry and Pat dates from 1979, in fact we have spent very few hours together - if you don't count phone time. When I think of the strength of that connection and the fact that it was seldom nurtured by "real time" shared experience-- I marvel at how close I felt - and feel - to Larry. We met in Holland (doesn't that sound sophisticated!) on an AYH-AMC bike trip. It was a big, disorganized, unwieldy group of adventurers and we were immediately divided into 2 sections. Wasn't I lucky to be with Pat and Larry! It was love at first sight! Who could resist that energy - that huge, welcoming grin - and the twinkle!! We have all met folks on vacation and made extravagant promises of "we must get together when we get back" but this time it worked. We didn't have to "get together" because we truly stayed together. I am sure that there are many other friends who can say the same---. HOWEVER there were a couple of times in the last 21 years when we actually got together and the most notable was when Larry ran the Boston Marathon. I like to think that I was his inspiration (in a modest way) because I was running when we first met and I know he was thinking "hmmm, if that little old lady can do it, so can I!!!!!" and he did; big time. He did everything "big time"-- he embraced life with vigor and enthusiasm, and that is how I shall always remember him.

People come into our lives for a reason. Whether it be to share beliefs and goals, to give one another gentle guidance and support, to be there during a difficult time, to tell a story and make you laugh, to play , to work, to teach you something you have never heard or done before, to bring you joy, to make you feel special and encourage you to enhance your talents. All of the above was Larry's gift to me and to so many of his friends.

Pat, I will forever cherish our couple's friendship and the wonderful moments that you, Larry, Jimmy and I have shared.

"Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die; and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy of life and the duty of life. Both life and death are part of the same great adventure." Theodore Roosevelt

Larry, Thankyou for sharing your life, courage and strength. LET YOUR SPIRIT SOAR!!
Love, Betsy

I lived across the street from Larry for many, many years. I will always picture Larry with a smile on his face and laughing, so I would like to tell a funny story. Occassionally I would go fishing with Larry on Long Island Sound and I always had a good time. One summer when I was in High School Larry offered me a summer job at Coloial ARCO, his service station, and it sounded like fun so I accepted. I had only been there about a week when on one especially hectic day Larry or Joe asked me to move a car out of the garage. As a new employee I was eager to please them. I was backing the car out and BOOM!.....I backed into another car. Larry or Joe said something to the effect of "Don't you know how to drive?" and my response was "No, I'm only 15 years old!" Larry had never asked me if I could drive and how old I was! Larry's smile and laugh will live on forever.

"A Mile walked with a friend contains only a hundred steps"--Robbie and I and our families have walked many miles together! Robbie will never be forgotten-- The Big 'ol Chrysler station wagon-- off on vacation-- with the kids layng down in the "way back". Pat and Gary in the front seat, taking turns driving, and Robbie and I in the back seat-- eating and playing with the kids-- we were one of them-- so why not have some fun. "We only come this way once". Pat, remember the B-I-G rain? I'll never forget swimmers' rapids on one of our rafting trips. Gary and Pat wouldn't climb the rock with Larry, so guess who he convinced to do it--that's right, Carole A -- Remember, he always called me Carole A. We climbed the rock-- which was probably only 20' high--but it seemed 100'. We looked down into those rapids, No way was I going to jump, but also, no way could I get down the rock. Robbie said, "I'll jump in and you jump right after me and hit the same spot in the water. I did it--but the photo of me "swimming" down the rapid shows pure fear--He made many of us take that extra step, or jump, whichever the case may be. All of those rivers together--the Yuk, the New, the Kennebec, the Ottawa--and when anyone is in Montreal--do the Lachine Rapids--you're in the rapids, and you see the skyline of the City of Montreal. We sure had fun. Remember how soaked our clothes were?The Bluefish! We'll never forget opening day in the skybox. We'll have many more fun games, Gary, Pat, Andi, Rob and I. Robbie won't be with us any more in person, but he will sure be there in spirit--cheering on "the team".

Yes, "a mile walked with a friend contains only a hundred steps". Those miles with our dear friend just went by too fast. But thank you God, for we will remember them forever.

I remember Larry used to bring me and my father out fishing in Long island sound. Im not much of an outdoorsman, But Larry tought me all about boating, and deep sea fishing, and I always had a great time. He would always go out of his way to make plans to go out fishing with me, and he would always make sure that the boat was ready to go, when we arrived. He was a fun guy to be around, even for a teenager.

All of my memories of Larry bring a smile to my face and sometimes an audible chuckle. His smile and his jokes will never be forgotten. A few of my memories are: getting gas at 5AM in the dark with all of the station lights off, the Honeymoon Suites at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, the many summer vacations our families enjoyed, renting a van for our summer vacations, riding the surf at Virginia Beach, the many whitewater adventures - especially the Gauley, the 102 degree temperatures in Maine where it was supposed to be cool, the Civitan Club and fruit cake, instructing a 15 year old who didn't have a drivers license to move a car in the gas station lot, the Bluefish games and most of all our last cup of tea (coffee for me) the week before your departure.

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur WardI'm very fortunate to not have only known and loved Uncle Robbie but to have been related to him. Sadly, I'm too young to have as many fantastic memories as the previously mentioned... But I will never forget my uncle. Losing him was a great loss, although knowing him was a privilege that surpassed our misfortune. I will miss Uncle Robbie.

Those jokes ... Larry always had one. My favorite was the old folks memory joke ... you forgot the mustard! No matter how many times I repeat that one, I still can't capture the way Larry could tell it.

Mr. Robertson's great love for his family even extended to their friends; my fondest memory of him is not a specific one but instead is an amalgam of many different times and places, with one thing in common. He was always glad to see us. It seemed that his heart always had room for more love.

My funniest memory of Mr. Robertson was a car trip during which he and Mrs. R gave me a ride to my parents' house in Vermont. Larry had opened a big bag of potato chips and offered me some, and when I responded that I was trying to lose weight, he informed me that the fun and benefits of eating a whole bag of potato chips was FAR more important than losing a few pounds. I think I agree now. I know they have all the best flavors of potato chips where you are now, Mr. R.

I have only wonderful memories of Mr. Robertson... a man I consider my second father. I am honored to have had him in my life ( and ALL the Robertsons!)I owe he and Mrs. Robertson so much as they gave me my best friend, their daughter, Christine. I was around three or four years old when theRobertsons moved in across the street from us. 29 years later... he is still an important presence in my life and always will be. As Madeline and Andrew's godmother, I hope to help keep their Puck alive in stories and laughter. Mr. Robertson was a person who taught me to challenge and stretch myself in areas where I would not have tread on my own...like whitewater rafting, biking any distance or jumping off rocks into rapids feet first. He never forced me to do these things, just gently coaxed me on. He always had loving arms and a John Denver song to welcome me whenever I saw him, whether I had just seen him the day before,the week before or a month before. He never seemed grumpy, at least not to me! He helped to instill a love of reading in me as he always had a book in his hand ( unless, of course, he had a paddle!). He also gave me a love of music, especially John Denver. I can picture him singing all of the classics like Take Me Home, Follow Me, Thank God I'm a Country Boy and acting out Grandma's Feather Bed! My memories of his laughter and HUGE smile are in a colorful scrapbook in my mind and will always stay safely there. How can I forget all of our family trips to West Virginia, PA, Maine, Williamsburg, Niagra Falls... Mrs. Robertson and my dad leading the way with all of the plans and Mr. Robertson and my mom bringing up the rear just laughing at all of the organization! Or the times the kids would all sleep out in the camper in the yard and Mr. and Mrs. Robertson yelling at us to "be quiet!", swimming, Grandpa Allen's rabbits (we thought they were pets!), the Harwinton Fair, snowmobiling and sledding in Orange at the golf course and breaking my coccyx bone on a jump on the tobbagon-ouch- and Mr. Robertson carried me to the car and then went back because he wanted to get "one more run in!!" He was always open... you never had to guess what he was thinking or feeling---I will always appreciate that. God has gained an angel in heaven... one that I know will always be on the shoulders of all he loved." Talk of poems and prayers and promises, things that we believe in. How sweet it is to love someone, how right it is to care. How long it's been since yesterday, what about tomorrow? What about our dreams and all the memories we share." John Denver- Poems, Prayers, Promises
With Love,
Andi

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