Dennis and I met in September, 1958. We were in the same class in fifth grade. I recall going to his house to play in his basement, and hiking with him through a field near our house. A few years later we were in the same Boy Scout troop and went to summer camp together. We were friends, but not close friends in high school. He was much smarter and more studious than me.
We bonded as best friends during our first year together at Drexel. The year was 1966. He was majoring in chemistry, I was majoring in electrical engineering. We spent much of our free time together, laughing, playing, drinking, often in deep discussion regarding matters of great importance. I used to tease him because my mom called him the perfect kid. He knew he wasn’t. Not until many years later did I learn how much that bothered him.
Although we were both good students, he was more disciplined. I was the wild one, often initiating crazy games or adventures. One Friday night I convinced him to come with me and hop a freight train to South Carolina. We spent all night walking the tracks, waiting for a train to pass. Saturday morning found us somewhere in South Philadelphia. We had breakfast at a small restaurant, then took the subway home.
We remained close throughout our first two years at college, until we encountered a bit of a problem over a girl named Alice. One of my favorite tear jerker movies is Pearl Harbor. Every time I watch it I can feel what those two guys were going through because I had lived that experience.
A couple years later, Dennis and I had patched things together, I attended his wedding and he was the best man when Martha and I were married. Dennis and Alice, and Martha and I were all close friends. After leaving Philadelphia, we never lived in the same town, and we made the effort to get together often. I recall several camping trips, a canoe trip, and many times they would come to our house to visit. I always looked forward to seeing my best friend.
Dennis passed away in 2013.
