Bob's smiling face and warm welcome will be there.
Truly we have lost a dear and dedicated classmate who committed himself to diligently tracking classmates over the years and summoning them to our reunions. Always done with fervor and always with a smile of satisfaction, when he roped another classmate in, Bob was an integral part of bringing us all together through his hours, days and weeks of e-mails, telphone calls and follow-up letters. From his perch in Arizona, and armed with his trusty keyboard Bob was always in touch with one classmate or another. While I never had the occasion to interact with Bob in high school, I came to apprecaite his talents, his wit, his kindness and understanding, and his relentless pursuit to keep a finger on his classmates as we 'seniored out' together.
As we have done with our other classmates who have left us, may we take a moment to to close our eyes and reflect on the joys and innocence that we all shared, so many, many years ago.
When did Bob Lindquist join us? It must have been when we were in the third or fourth grade, so for those of us in the Oradell contingent the friendship goes back to the 1940s.
In recent years Bob and I had stayed in touch via the occasional email or phone call. We exchanged notes on how to deal with Parkinson's disease, from which my wife, Christa, also suffers. Neurodegenerative illnesses like PD are no trip to the shore, but Bob was a survivor (of two wives and a brother lost to cancer, along with his own health problems) and a spirited one at that. In a message from late June, he related his decision to enter an assisted living community and the pleasure he was experiencing making new acquaintances, who would doubtless have turned into friends had there been world enough and time.
Coming less than a month after the death of my kid brother, Steve, the loss of Bob leaves me feeling sad and--as is true for us all--vulnerable.
Bob ("Link") was one of the few members of our OJHS/DMHS class with whom I had kept in touch on a regular basis through the years -- or, more accurately, through the decades. A truly special person. Among other things, he never lost perspective, always had a joke or light-hearted banter to share, and cared about things... well... that are worth caring about! Always there for others, and a safe harbor in a storm. We talk a lot about "values,"nowadays. One value" I hold onto was Bob Lindquist and 60+ years of friendship.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” (C.S. Lewis)
Friendships come in all shapes and sizes. Usually the best ones are honed over many decades, but not always. I had the rare good fortune to find true friend and a kindred spirit in Bob Lindquist in the relatively short time span since our 50th reunion. We first got to know each other while working together on the DMHS classmate-finding project in 2007. His intellect, his wit, and his broad knowledge & experience made for conversational magic during our weekly phone updates. Often they stretched out to an hour or more, long after our reunion business was concluded.
Bob was the kind of person who had a way of making one feel important and special. He was a great listener, empathetic and attentive. Always discussions with him were peppered with that unique laugh of his. (I can close my eyes & hear it now.) Always he was interested and interesting, fun and funny. It’s no wonder our acquaintance easily grew into a cherished, close friendship. He cared, and he let you know he did.
Over the last decade I’ve visited AZ often, spending time with my brother in Cottonwood and with Bob at his home in Phoenix. In early July this year, Marlene Johnson & I visited him in his new assisted living home in Scottsdale. He was, as Rich Cross mentioned here, genuinely happy to be there and was doing OK. He was delighted to have the needed extra care the place afforded him and always maintained an upbeat attitude despite the fact that, as he put it, Parkinson’s was rapidly taking its toll. He kept that attitude right up to the end.
It isn’t easy to lose such a special person in my life, but it’s what happens as we get older. I am only grateful to have known this extraordinary man for as long as I did. I’ll ne’er forget him and will always miss him. RIP, Bobby.
Bob Lindquist (known to his old friends as “Link”) was a good friend, who I will miss greatly. As Dick Cross mentioned, Bob moved to Oradell in about the 3rd or 4th grade, so we’ve known him for 70 years, a long time.
He and I talked 2 or 3 times a week over the past 4-5 month since his Parkinson’s became more acute. We’d reminisce about all our experiences growing up in Oradell and the fun times we shared. As Barbara Lowell said Bob’s laugh was unique, a very Hearty one. Robert was a unique individual, a very intelligent guy, who cared deeply about others very much. He enjoyed Jeopardy, the TV program, because it challenged his mind.
He loved connecting with all the DMHS classmates while updating our Reunion Directory. When he knew he couldn’t attend the Oradell Jr. H.S. reunion in 2015, he was very happy to be part of it via Skyping during our class visit to the Oradell Library and the Class Banquet at Hackensack Golf Club. It allowed him to connect with lots of classmates.
Bob told me he had no regrets; there was nothing in his “bucket list”. He had travelled the world, Sweden, Europe, Australia, China and India to name a few. Even tho’ Bob was not a spiritual person and we talked about that a few times, I think the following poem tells it well for Robert Dennis Lindquist, may he Rest-in-Peace:
I'm Free.
I'm following the path God had for me I took Gods hand when I heard the call I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that special place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss. Ah, yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I've savored much, good friends, good times a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief, don't lengthen it with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me God wanted me now, God set me free.
I will miss our frequent chats LINK, my dear friend, Mase
Anne Stryker (McKegney)
He will be missed. Was a dear old friend from way back. We had even worked together for a while. Rest in peace, Bob.
Anne Stryker McKegney
Linda Reder (Dohm)
Rest in peace, Bob !!! So many memories form our Oradell school days...dancing class, Boy Scout dances, class projects. You will be missed !,
Alan Hembrough
Truly we have lost a dear and dedicated classmate who committed himself to diligently tracking classmates over the years and summoning them to our reunions. Always done with fervor and always with a smile of satisfaction, when he roped another classmate in, Bob was an integral part of bringing us all together through his hours, days and weeks of e-mails, telphone calls and follow-up letters. From his perch in Arizona, and armed with his trusty keyboard Bob was always in touch with one classmate or another.
While I never had the occasion to interact with Bob in high school, I came to apprecaite his talents, his wit, his kindness and understanding, and his relentless pursuit to keep a finger on his classmates as we 'seniored out' together.
As we have done with our other classmates who have left us, may we take a moment to to close our eyes and reflect on the joys and innocence that we all shared, so many, many years ago.
Alan D. Hembrough
Richard Cross
When did Bob Lindquist join us? It must have been when we were in the third or fourth grade, so for those of us in the Oradell contingent the friendship goes back to the 1940s.
In recent years Bob and I had stayed in touch via the occasional email or phone call. We exchanged notes on how to deal with Parkinson's disease, from which my wife, Christa, also suffers. Neurodegenerative illnesses like PD are no trip to the shore, but Bob was a survivor (of two wives and a brother lost to cancer, along with his own health problems) and a spirited one at that. In a message from late June, he related his decision to enter an assisted living community and the pleasure he was experiencing making new acquaintances, who would doubtless have turned into friends had there been world enough and time.
Coming less than a month after the death of my kid brother, Steve, the loss of Bob leaves me feeling sad and--as is true for us all--vulnerable.
R.I.P, Link.
Robert Hunter
Bob ("Link") was one of the few members of our OJHS/DMHS class with whom I had kept in touch on a regular basis through the years -- or, more accurately, through the decades. A truly special person. Among other things, he never lost perspective, always had a joke or light-hearted banter to share, and cared about things... well... that are worth caring about! Always there for others, and a safe harbor in a storm. We talk a lot about "values,"nowadays. One value" I hold onto was Bob Lindquist and 60+ years of friendship.
Bob Hunter
Barbara LaPointe Lowell (LaPointe)
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” (C.S. Lewis)
Friendships come in all shapes and sizes. Usually the best ones are honed over many decades, but not always. I had the rare good fortune to find true friend and a kindred spirit in Bob Lindquist in the relatively short time span since our 50th reunion. We first got to know each other while working together on the DMHS classmate-finding project in 2007. His intellect, his wit, and his broad knowledge & experience made for conversational magic during our weekly phone updates. Often they stretched out to an hour or more, long after our reunion business was concluded.
Bob was the kind of person who had a way of making one feel important and special. He was a great listener, empathetic and attentive. Always discussions with him were peppered with that unique laugh of his. (I can close my eyes & hear it now.) Always he was interested and interesting, fun and funny. It’s no wonder our acquaintance easily grew into a cherished, close friendship. He cared, and he let you know he did.
Over the last decade I’ve visited AZ often, spending time with my brother in Cottonwood and with Bob at his home in Phoenix. In early July this year, Marlene Johnson & I visited him in his new assisted living home in Scottsdale. He was, as Rich Cross mentioned here, genuinely happy to be there and was doing OK. He was delighted to have the needed extra care the place afforded him and always maintained an upbeat attitude despite the fact that, as he put it, Parkinson’s was rapidly taking its toll. He kept that attitude right up to the end.
It isn’t easy to lose such a special person in my life, but it’s what happens as we get older. I am only grateful to have known this extraordinary man for as long as I did. I’ll ne’er forget him and will always miss him. RIP, Bobby.
Donald Mason
Bob Lindquist (known to his old friends as “Link”) was a good friend, who I will miss greatly. As Dick Cross mentioned, Bob moved to Oradell in about the 3rd or 4th grade, so we’ve known him for 70 years, a long time.
He and I talked 2 or 3 times a week over the past 4-5 month since his Parkinson’s became more acute. We’d reminisce about all our experiences growing up in Oradell and the fun times we shared. As Barbara Lowell said Bob’s laugh was unique, a very Hearty one. Robert was a unique individual, a very intelligent guy, who cared deeply about others very much. He enjoyed Jeopardy, the TV program, because it challenged his mind.
He loved connecting with all the DMHS classmates while updating our Reunion Directory. When he knew he couldn’t attend the Oradell Jr. H.S. reunion in 2015, he was very happy to be part of it via Skyping during our class visit to the Oradell Library and the Class Banquet at Hackensack Golf Club. It allowed him to connect with lots of classmates.
Bob told me he had no regrets; there was nothing in his “bucket list”. He had travelled the world, Sweden, Europe, Australia, China and India to name a few. Even tho’ Bob was not a spiritual person and we talked about that a few times, I think the following poem tells it well for Robert Dennis Lindquist, may he Rest-in-Peace:
I'm Free.
I'm following the path God had for me I took Gods hand when I heard the call I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that special place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss. Ah, yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I've savored much, good friends, good times a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief, don't lengthen it with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me God wanted me now, God set me free.
I will miss our frequent chats LINK, my dear friend, Mase