The Outpouring of Love

Troy

I was up early this morning, about 5 AM. I looked out the window and saw the first signs of the day. It was an early morning scene filled by deep red hues and silhouetted hills on the east side of Cayuga Lake.

It was a surreal scene. I was thinking about Troy and Easter and resurrection and eternal life. No wonder I couldn't sleep. My mind just kept turning over the events of the past week and how quickly things had changed.

I checked the Ithaca Journal on line for Troy's obituary. The outpouring of love for Troy has been astounding and I am constantly amazed by the entries on his Facebook page from his friends. 

The images in this blog were posted by some of his friends.

The comments on his page are even more telling and not just from peers, but from teachers as well. His infectious personality affected everyone he met.

I have made up my mind not to talk about him in the past tense--but in the present because he still lives. Not just in my mind and heart, or the minds and hearts of everyone who knew him, but he lives eternally at a new address. It's just I can't phone him right now.

The last couple of lines from his obituary provide some information that some of my friends have asked for and so I will copy it here--but I urge you to click the link above and read about the wonderfully full life of my extraordinary nephew.

Excerpt from the Ithaca Journal, April 19, 2014:

We were blessed to have him in our life, but are deeply saddened by his passing at such an early age, with so many things left he wanted to experience. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 2:00PM at the Danby Federated Church, 1859 Danby Road, Danby NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a scholarship fund which will be set up in memory of Troy at Ithaca High School. Donations to the Troy Whittemore Memorial Scholarship can be sent in c/o Mike Kasel at 320 Elm Street, Ithaca NY 14850. 


-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY