Brother Did You Know that:

At age 40 you would die from a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury due to you having a seizure and falling.

Why? Because you were supposedly going to a rehab but instead you chose the city mission. Were you confused? We will never know.

Your alcoholism stole everything from you. Your wife and children became secondary and they had to leave because of it. You were overwhelmed and depressed but your alcoholism would not allow you to think clearly enough to see the path of destruction.

By the time your family knew of your alcoholism it was too late. We tried helping you but what we didnt realize is that you could not abruptly stop drinking. We sent you to detox several times but you still would not seek help due to your pride. You had to go to the private rehab residential programs. But because your assets were frozen, you didnt have the funds to go.

You alienated all of your family and friends. At some point we all gave up trying to help. This haunts me.

Your funeral was filled to capacity. 300+ people came to show their support. We heard many stories of the heroic things you did as an accomplished firefighter.

Fire trucks came and parked outside the funeral home in shifts. I stood and looked around and was deeply grateful but yet saddened at the thought that maybe you never knew the support system you had. Were you too afraid to be honest and seek help because it would make you seem weak?

We loved you dearly brother!