Tony was a bright spot in so many lives. He always had a smile on his face, greeted co-workers, worked his butt off and was proud of every minute of every day. His routine was pretty set in stone because he was on the spectrum, but with preparation, he was willing to compromise. The highlight of each year was a summer trip to Denver where he had to go to the Coors Brewery in Golden and have one, maybe two small beers because “he didn’t want to become an alcoholic.” We also had to attend the Rockies fireworks game and stay to watch the last glitter fall from the sky. This trip included dinner at the restaurant attached to the stadium. It was “tradition”.

So many people lost a very important person when he died. Unlike many who succumbed to Covid-19, we were very lucky in that Tony’s death was quick, so quick we had no way to prepare. We thought we had our usual early fall allergies, no reason to think otherwise; we washed our hands, wore our masks, stayed away from crowds, but it still found us. Because we all thought we had allergies, I stayed home from work those two days and will never regret that decision. He was doing his usual activities on his computer and at lunch time, stood up and said “Whoa, I am really dizzy.” He made his way to his recliner and sat down, asked someone to fix his lunch (which he always did himself) and died. His father and I had the blessing to complete that circle of life with him. We had been there at his birth and were there with him just four days after his birthday to see him taken home with God.

We have experienced all those questions of was he vaccinated? – answer no, not developed yet. Underlying health issues? – answer just a mere 3 weeks earlier, his doctor told him how proud he was for the positive directions he had taken on his overall health.

We were also blessed in that we could have a funeral for him. although I asked that those attending wear masks and social distance. It was a beautiful celebration of a wonderful man’s life. But, I will always grieve the loss of my firstborn that came way too soon. There are still people who have not heard that Covid took him; so many are uncomfortable that they never heard. But, times were weird and communication not what it always was, and I have the opportunity to share with them the marvelous person we lost. It has become my mission to never let him be forgotten. Those who have lost their lives to Covid must not be swept under the rug. We need to remember them and their loss the way all losses are remembered.

I read someone is trying to get a Federal holiday for Covid victims; what a great idea to remember so many great people!!

I don’t remember a single day I spent with my grandpa Ron where he didn’t have a smile on his face. And what a smile it was – like the first warm ray of sunshine breaking through thick Oregon clouds. Gregarious, joyful, and endlessly delighted to be around the people he loved, my grandpa often seemed to literally light up every room he was in. It as as though he brought the sun with him everywhere he went, making everything around him warm and bright.

Ron loved his family, and I’ll always remember how special I felt whenever I was around him. He was my biggest cheerleader through engineering school and he told all his friends how proud he was of me. I regret that the last time I saw him was over a year before he died in September 2021. I was stupid and young and didn’t understand how precious my time with him was. I saw him one more time for his eighty-fifth birthday, when we all got together over Zoom to celebrate. He was so delighted that he could talk to all of us over the computer! But I never saw him again. He was admitted to the hospital with COVID complications a week before he was supposed to get his booster, and died less than ten days later. The hospital didn’t even let me talk to him over the phone, but I asked a nurse to tell him that I love him. I don’t know if he ever got the message.

He was so proud when I told him that I had finally started my dream job as an engineer for NASA. Despite the overwhelming challenges of the pandemic, our spacecraft is due to launch on schedule in August. Our PI commissioned a plaque to go on the spacecraft, commemorating those we lost. My grandpa Ron is finally going up among the stars, where he has always belonged.

Both Reed and his fiancee started feeling ill about the same time. Since COVID-19 was raging around them, they decided to get tested. Both were positive. Reed’s fiancee started to get sicker. Reed not so much. He had a bit of a headache and a slight cough but it seemed nothing too serious. Meantime, his fiancee was suffering strong symptoms of the virus.

Though not very concerned about the illness, Reed went with his fiancee to the ER to be looked at. Within the next 12 hours he went from teasing his fiancee about her symptoms to lying in a hospital bed in the ICU. One day later he was unable to draw breath and was intubated. Within the next five days he expired. Meantime, his fiancee recovered and is doing well.

I am the oldest brother, well into my 60s, and if I was a betting person, would have put money on myself to die from this horrible disease before any of my other brothers. Reed would never have been considered a candidate for COVID-19 let alone to be killed by it. He was our youngest brother and should have lived to attend our funerals. But this virus is a master of irony and sarcasm. It seems to choose victims for maximum effect; leaving stunned survivors to feel guilt and sorrow about their own fortune to avoid the grave. The virus did not however, manage to destroy the value of Reed’s life and the love he gave to others. My love for my youngest brother lives on.

This time last year you were with me. This year is not the same. You are in heaven, that is a wonderful thing. I don’t care what people say — you are in my thoughts, my prayers and the biggest part of me, my heart. There are some days more than others that I feel like I have lost my way. All I have to do is look up at the light and you will guide my way.

One of our daughter’s best friends’ father — he, and especially his wife, were Trumpers and didn’t believe in the vaccine. He was otherwise healthy and in his 60’s. He was a sweet guy who needed to stay around for his grandkids.

I’m still so mad that he didn’t get vaccinated and his wife only did after he died and only because her mother begged her to.