Saturday, June 24, 2023
Dear Judith, Cory, Cynthia, and Cathy
Deepest sympathies on the passing of one of the finest men I have ever known. Neil and his brother Hubert and many young Botwood boys were connected in many ways including The Boy Scouts where we were guided by two brothers from Change Islands Lester and Roy Hynes who were committed to living Christian lives. We shared the fellowship of camping, hiking , attending various churches in full uniform, and fundraising on behalf of others. Campfires were a big part of that wherein Neil, Hubert, my brother Bill and I got a chance to wail ending the night with…..”softly falls the light of day……”. We were extremely happy young fellows whom became bonded for life.
Neil, Bob Fong and I lived together in St. John’s while attending university. One day we stumbled upon an abandoned old record player and a single album by Roger Miller and we were amazed by one song “What I’d give to be the wind” which we both loved and became part of our repertoire and remained so the rest of our lives. How strange is that!
Our lives took us in different directions after that and we never got the chance to perform together again but we came close. Two weeks ago Neil’s name came up again by Ern Elliott and John Horwood commenting on The Botwood Come Home Year celebration where Neil played with other old friends which was the talk of the town and a subject of conversation many times after.
I’ve always felt connected to the United Church as have Neil and Hubert. We were very fortunate young people to have received guidance from others which we have continued to pay forward. The teenage years are brief in the scheme of things and many of our friends have since passed and now Neil has departed but his good works live on as can be noted on The Tribute Wall. My heart goes out to all of you who grieve for him. I am so blessed that my journey connected me with Neil and Hubert, gentlemen both.