In April of 2025 I drew a long and fulfilling career to a close to begin a new chapter of my life devoted to “side quests.” The idea was to pursue micro-passions: bigger than a hobby but less than a career. Travel, skeet shooting, charity work. All things that were important to me and my family and could now hold my whole focus rather than getting squeezed in around the demands of a job.
But there was one thing I did not want to change in this next chapter: my partner. For nearly 30 years my wife Kate as been a part of all of my “quests,” be they the main quest line or side quests. While she did not participate in every activity, she was always by my side. I was never alone.
That changed at 5:20pm on February 16, 2026. After a years-long battle with blood cancer and all its side effects, Kate finally found peace and can rest. While I am destroyed to have lost my life partner, I knew just how tired she was. I am happy she had a beautiful transition on her own terms and can be with God.
This happened a day after I summited Mount Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser for Blood Cancer United, a charity that has been a part of our lives since her diagnosis in 2008. On top of that mountain I feel I saw the doorway to heaven, in which Kate now resides. While I did not see inside, the entryway was beautiful. I trust so too is the rest.
Cancer is terrible and now it has taken a part of my soul and all of hers. Please help us fight this disease so that others do not need to walk this path behind us.
Thank you.
