This was on HOCKEY-L and I thought it was very touching.  -dt


----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: Shawn Walsh


> On Saturday, August 4th I drove my grandson to Logan for a flight to
> Washington to meet with the rest of his family who were vacationing. We
were
> a little early for the flight and is my wont, I wandered around the gate.
I
> heard, "Hi Bob!" and I looked and at first I didn't recognize Shawn.
>
> His voice was still strong and we chatted a little and I learned that he
was
> going to the National Health Institute for a stay. He had picked up a
virus
> and since his immune system had been suppressed he told me he needed help
to
> combat the virus. He also said me that at that moment he was feeling good
and
> the only thing that bothered him was the perpetual tiredness that no
amount
> of rest could relieve.
>
> I introduced my grandson (16) to him and pretty soon they were engaged in
> quite an animated conversation. I walked away and watched them until the
> flight was called. My grandson got up and walked to the gate.
>
> I didn't see Shawn in the line and I looked back where he had been
sitting.
> The chair was one of those that has a backward angle to the seat and Shawn
> was trying mightily to get up. I didn't think he would make it and I
almost
> went over to help him.
> I knew he would not appreciate that and with quite a struggle eventually
he
> did get up and walked to the boarding line. He turned and waved to me and
got
> on the plane.
>
> I guess at that moment I knew just how bad it was for him and at the same
> time as I watched him get out of the chair, I knew he was going to fight
with
> his last breath.
>
> That night when my grandson called to tell us that the flight was great
and
> Mom and Dad were waiting for him at the gate, I asked what he and Coach
Walsh
> had talked about. "Just about life in general" he said.
>
> Whenever Northeastern went to Maine, Shawn always found time to chat with
me.
> I thought I had become quite knowledgeable about him and the kind of
person
> he was.
> But I learned more about him in that twenty-minutes at the Airport then I
had
> gleaned from our association of many years.
>
> I have many memories of Shawn in action and his defense of his beloved
Black
> Bears    which as we all know could be quite vocal. But now my memory will
be
> of him talking with a 16 year old boy -- "Just about life in general."
>
> Shawn, you will be missed, not only by the Black Bears, but by all whom
you
> touched
>
> Bob Saunders
> NU Staff.


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