The giver

I ran into Roy Laviolette not more than a week or so ago at Albertsons. He was walking toward me ever so slowly when he grabbed my arm, leaned up against me and held on to me firmly.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I felt a little dizzy." I looked into his eyes and said, "That's okay, even 55year-olds get a little dizzy once in a while." We chatted for a moment, and he went into the store to do his shopping. "You be careful now, Roy," were my last words to him.

When we look into the eyes of those we are around for years and years, whether intimate friend or casual acquaintance, we really never know when life decides to take its calling on us. Yet still it is difficult for many of us—and society— to treat people humanely, to really care, knowing somewhere deep down within that our moments here are ever so brief.

What I know about Roy was that he was very giving, though mostly quiet. Always giving back to his community and city he loved tirelessly till 92 years old.

I can only offer kind and deep condolences to his family and friends. Anthony L. Pecoraro Calabasas