Thursday, July 11, 2024
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I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't think this seems real. We've lost such an amazing person. Val was so full of energy & life that, like the Energizer Bunny, I assumed she'd power on long after the rest of us. Val and I went to St. Joe's together. After I graduated and my first accounting job transferred me to North Jersey, I ended up living about a mile from Val. We figured that out at a St. Joe's Young Alumni event at the Philopatrian Club in Center City. Other than our co-workers, we knew no in the area so we started exploring North Jersey, New York, and the Atlantic Highlands areas. That led to Vermont Bicycle Tours and so many other adventures.
The first photo is from 1987. I recruited a couple friends to help move Val into her new home/office at 178 Stoneway Lane in Bala Cynwyd. You could see St. Joe's Barbelin Tower from one of Val's upstairs bedrooms.
The second photo is from 1986. We stayed at the Hotel Chelsea on our way to Vermont for another bicycle tour. The desk clerk told us David Bowie had stayed in our room.
Our most recent adventure was Ellicott City, MD. About 35 years earlier after Val had moved from North Jersey to Annapolis, People Express flew from Newark to BWI so it cost me only $38 RT to visit. Flew down once just to see Linda Ronstadt at Merriwether Post Pavillion and Val drove me back to BWI after the concert. The $19 fare was only off-peak and my Honda was parked at Newark airport.
Val changed my life and taught me so many life lessons and I'm not sure I ever properly thanked her for that.
Hugs & Love to Ken, Max, Abby, Joe, Phyllis, and Dickie and all the many other people that Val loved.
