Lost my best friend...

[RT Gooch]

RT here. Good morning.

Some of you who have followed my adventures may have noticed that I try to include a couple of shots of girls wearing one of my many University of Miami caps. There's a story behind it.

When I moved to South Florida in 1990, I adopted the Hurricanes as my 'home team', but not in a fanatical way. About five years ago, I met Rob. Rob was the die-hard of all die-hards, when it came to the 'Canes. The guy bled green and orange. We had a lot in common, and quickly became good friends.

Rob liked hookers as much as any of us, but I could never get him to get his passport and come with me on a trip -- anywhere. So I took to getting pictures of the girls in 'Canes hats as a way of further luring him overseas with me. "There are 'Cane fans everywhere," I told him. It made him laugh more than it encouraged him to get a passport, so the original plan did not work. It became something of a trademark, and I continue it to this day.

We would speak a few times a week while I am stuck working here in the Dominican Republic. On Monday, he offered to pick me up at the airport when I got home tonight. We were going to the Duke game on Saturday. That was the last time we spoke.

Well, I received an email yesterday from a mutual friend, asking me to call him. When I did, he told me that Rob was found dead in his car by the police later Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

I am stunned. Rob had diabetes, but took care of it. I realize that people die all the time, but I was not prepared to lose my best friend, especially without notice.

I miss him now; I will miss him more as time goes by.

You guys don't know him, and I'm not sure why I am telling you this. But you have him to thank for the plethora of girls all over the world wearing Miami Hurricanes hats. I will think of him when I take future pictures.

Now, get off the computer and go spend some time with your best friend.

 

[TinTin]

.....I miss him now; I will miss him more as time goes by......

RT, my condolences. I will look at these and future photos in a new light and celebrate Rob's immortality, as his essence will live on thanks to your efforts.

TinTin

 

[Bucefalo]

I have felt sad and gloomy from knowing what has happened to you. It's painful losing a guy in the plenitude of his life. ​

Those events, the good friends make us appreciate. I desire much force, friend.

 

[Antonioeleele]

and offer you my condolences; he must have been a hell of a guy. As for your words, he would have felt pride in what you say about him and the value you put on his friendship. The quality of your friends says a lot about yourself. That said, I am taking your advice and will be spending more time with my friends; thank you for that reminder.

Antonio

 

[Alex_Alonso]

Dear RT,

I am sorry for your loss, we sincerely feel the sadness and the pain and we know how is it to be hurt.

 

[METROCHENTA]

Yo aún no sé lo que es perder a un mejor amigo, pero puedo imaginarlo...
me auno a tu dolor y simplemente espero que lo superes pronto.

Un abrazo,

Dave.

__________

I dont know yet how is to loose a better friend, but i just can imagine it...
i join you in your sadness y hope that you get out of this pain soon.

Regards,

David.

 

[gabrielm]

Sorry about your loss, from someone who lost someone dear not too long ago, I truly feel your loss. However don't be too sad, it looks like the two of you truly had a brotherhood, and remember people live as long you remember them.

Keep on living bro, and keep on doing what you love most.

From a new 'Canes fan!

gabriel

RT here. Good morning.

Some of you who have followed my adventures may have noticed that I try to include a couple of shots of girls wearing one of my many University of Miami caps. There's a story behind it.

When I moved to South Florida in 1990, I adopted the Hurricanes as my 'home team', but not in a fanatical way. About five years ago, I met Rob. Rob was the die-hard of all die-hards, when it came to the 'Canes. The guy bled green and orange. We had a lot in common, and quickly became good friends.

Rob liked hookers as much as any of us, but I could never get him to get his passport and come with me on a trip -- anywhere. So I took to getting pictures of the girls in 'Canes hats as a way of further luring him overseas with me. "There are 'Cane fans everywhere," I told him. It made him laugh more than it encouraged him to get a passport, so the original plan did not work. It became something of a trademark, and I continue it to this day.

We would speak a few times a week while I am stuck working here in the Dominican Republic. On Monday, he offered to pick me up at the airport when I got home tonight. We were going to the Duke game on Saturday. That was the last time we spoke.

Well, I received an email yesterday from a mutual friend, asking me to call him. When I did, he told me that Rob was found dead in his car by the police later Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

I am stunned. Rob had diabetes, but took care of it. I realize that people die all the time, but I was not prepared to lose my best friend, especially without notice.

I miss him now; I will miss him more as time goes by.

You guys don't know him, and I'm not sure why I am telling you this. But you have him to thank for the plethora of girls all over the world wearing Miami Hurricanes hats. I will think of him when I take future pictures.

Now, get off the computer and go spend some time with your best friend.

 

[treznok]

i never check this area, but i know how awful someone can feel after losing a dear friend.
my prayers are with you, hope you feel better.

 

[Falcon-X]

My condolences dear RTGooch. The loss of a good friend is painful, I know because I lost a great friend long ago.

The lost pain of a friendship 0nly can be comforted with the memory of to have been your friend and the hope of which your friend is in better life . Remember to your friend live is the best tribute that you can do.

 

[TESLA]

RT:
Please accept my condolences for your loss. Sounds to me that Rob was already one of us, as we are all 'Canes fans now...you know, the kind of pal i'd like to meet.

I feel honored that you have chosen this community to express your feelings of loss and it makes me appreciate it as more than just a forum but a collection of comrades and friends that stand for each other. Thank you.

Tonight, a pint in his honor!

T

 

[Homo_Lo_Gato]

Please accept my condolences for your loss. I know I'm late, I wish I had read your post yesterday.

 

[Fredo]

Recently today I read your story, really deplore it a lot of RT.

Fredo

 

[RT Gooch]

Thanks for your words of support, guys.

I have heard the same thing from many people in all parts of my life -- now I just need to take it to heart.

Today is the football game. I sure hope that he is watching!

 

[pipichico]

Just read your post man, I am very sorry for your loss.
I do know how it feels as I lost my best friend last year in June. Similar way, we were thousands of miles appart. He was on a vacation trip in Budapest where one morning he woke up with pain in his chest, he was having a heart attack and ten minutes later he was dead in the bed of the hotel. I was also told by a phone call, and from that minute on I started living five of the worst days of my life as I had to tell mutual friends about his passing and at the same time lead all coordinataions to bring his body back to Peru. Have you heard a Hungarian trying to speak English!? So it was the pain of his sudden passing plus the frustration of fighting againts a senseless system to get my firend back.
More than a year has passed and we still get some tears in our eyes when friends get together and talk about him, but it helps us very much to remember him, talk about all the things we did togehter and always end up lauphing and feeling good.
So I believe it was wise to post this RT, to share your loss, your feelings and talk us about Rod. It is both a world wide tribute to him and good therapy to you.
All my best.

 

[devilmaniaco]

very sorry to read this.

[SIZE=-1]i just wanted to extend my sincere condolences to you, RT








[/SIZE]

 

[RT Gooch]

RT here. I just got back from the football game, and I felt a responsibility to go to his regular section and tell his friends there the news.

He saw those people -- at most -- seven times a year. Usually less. Never away from the game.

It warmed my heart to see the outpouring of emotion from these people. Not that I needed any further confirmation, but there's even more proof of what a great guy he was.

He will live on in MANY people's memories.

 

[Juan Alimaña]

Estimado RT,
Mi mas sentido pesame for the loss of your pal Rob. What a shock it must have been when you were told about it. One day you are talking with a person and the next day they are gone.
With all due respect may I suggest honoring the memory of your dear friend Rob by writting his name above the girls' ass in addition to wearing the cap when taking your next pics.

Juan Alimana

 

[RT Gooch]

RT here. With what I guess could be called 'good' news, at least with the situation as it is.

I spoke to Rob's sister for about a half hour the other night. We took turns telling each other our favorite stories about him.

He 0nly went to Arizona to see his family once a year, so she wasn't up-to-date on all of his activities. I was able to let her know that he was sincerely loved by dozens of people.

Then she told me the greatest story:

He was cremated, and, per his wishes, half of his ashes were scattered at home plate at Mark Light Field (the Hurricane's baseball stadium), and the other half were distributed under the goal posts in the West End Zone of the Orange Bowl. They snuck into Mark Light under the cloak of darkness, and brazenly lied their way into the Orange Bowl, tricking a security guy in a golf cart. What determination! I can just picture his 50-something year-old sister and his 70+ year-old mother skulking around Coral Gables. The two of us laughed for a while about that.
​

Her sister gave me permission to tell this story to anyone but the cops. It feels good that -- if Rob had to die then -- he's in the two places that he loved the most.

 

[gringo criollo]

RT here. With what I guess could be called 'good' news, at least with the situation as it is.

I spoke to Rob's sister for about a half hour the other night. We took turns telling each other our favorite stories about him.

He 0nly went to Arizona to see his family once a year, so she wasn't up-to-date on all of his activities. I was able to let her know that he was sincerely loved by dozens of people.



Then she told me the greatest story:

He was cremated, and, per his wishes, half of his ashes were scattered at home plate at Mark Light Field (the Hurricane's baseball stadium), and the other half were distributed under the goal posts in the West End Zone of the Orange Bowl. They snuck into Mark Light under the cloak of darkness, and brazenly lied their way into the Orange Bowl, tricking a security guy in a golf cart. What determination! I can just picture his 50-something year-old sister and his 70+ year-old mother skulking around Coral Gables. The two of us laughed for a while about that.​

Her sister gave me permission to tell this story to anyone but the cops. It feels good that -- if Rob had to die then -- he's in the two places that he loved the most.

 

[lordbyron]

My condolences dear RT. Losing someone specially your best friend is hard but for me it was the memories that I had of my best friend that keeps him alive.

Regards,

LordByron