In Loving Memory of

Susan and I grew up a couple blocks from  each other in a small town in northern Michigan.   We went to kindergarten together, which I believe is where we first met. She went on to attend the local public school and I attended a Catholic school. For a time she would come over to play at my house. I went to her house once, her father really did not like that. Growing up we often saw each other, like I said, a small town. 

We dated a few summers when we got older. Usually when school started she broke up with me because she got teased at school. When I was a senior in high school I joined the U.S. Navy on delayed enlistment program. In July 1978 Susan and I met again at our town's annual festival and instantly fell in love. But then in August that same year I left for boot camp. She wrote me every single day. I wrote as much as I was allowed. When I graduated boot camp I came home for a week. I asked Susan to marry me. She said no, she was not ready. 

I had about 18 months in Navy schools, we talked on the phone a couple of times a week. I came home every chance I had, usually between different schools. Each time I asked her to marry me. Each time I received the same answer. In my last school I had a three day weekend. I drove to Michigan from Virginia and Susan came back with me. We told her parents it would be for two weeks. She never went back. For the first two weeks we stayed in an old tent in a camp ground in Virginia Beach. I guess she got tired of me asking her to marry me every single day. We were married on October 31, 1979. 

In 1980 I was stationed on my first submarine, the USS Henry L. Stimson SSBN 655. Being away from Susan was difficult, but we basically dated while separated, so it was not new to us. In 1982 our first daughter was born. We moved back to Virginia as the sub went into the Newport News Shipyard. I was then transferred to shore duty in Virgina Beach teaching the same school I had attended there. That is when our second daughter was born in 1985. After a couple years there I was sent back to another submarine, the USS James Madison SSBN 627. It was during that time our son was born - December 26, 1989. He was born while I was out at sea.

Our son was born with a severe heart defect. I remember if he cried very hard he would turn blue. On Septemeber 14, 1990 he had open heart surgery that was supposed to fix problems. He passed away the next day. I hope and pray no one reading this ever has to go through losing a child. We were shattered.

I decided to leave the U.S. Navy at the end of my enlistment. I could not leave Susan alone again. She was an incredibly strong woman, but she needed me, we needed each other. So I was discharged from the military in January 1992. I ended up getting a job in software engineering and bounced from job to job ending up in Tampa Florida.

Susan and I had 41 mostly good years together until God called her up to heaven in April 2021.

Susan is my soul-mate. Yes I said IS and not WAS. I still feel that bond to her even though she is no longer here with me. After all, our soul is what goes on. I feel our souls were joined together by God. That would not change just because she is no longer in her body. We were married at 19 years old and being married to her is all I know. Please don't lecture me about "moving on", I will not, ever.  I will carry her in my heart forever.

Susan was smart, beautiful, funny and more than a little quirky. She was a better woman than I ever deserved.

I miss her every second of every day. 

I look forward to being with her again one day in heaven.