Steve Boyer - Nephew

When I was a child, my Aunt fondly named me "Schwartz", but it was my Uncle who gave my nickname true validation. From the first time I met him as a child, I knew this was the type of man I would aspire to become. The way he loved my Aunt showed me the true meaning of marriage. The way he raised his children, showed me how to be a good father. The way he treated his friends and family showed me the meaning of loyalty. He was possibly the perfect role model. It was as a young boy, I realized my uncle was the center of my life. When I was about nine years old, I heard the whispers of adults saying how sorry they felt for me because my parents had divorced and my father had moved out of state. If only they knew how fortunate I really was to have the ultimate parent. His name was "Uncle Eddie".

An "Uncle Eddie" comes along maybe once every hundred lifetimes. His role is to love unconditionally, nurture the world and share the secrets of life with anyone who would listen. He could make believers out of cynics and he would fascinate all with his magical stories. It seemed like there wasn't anything he hadn't seen or done and this truly amazed me. How did I get to be the luckiest boy in the world? Whenever I was hungry, he would make all my favorite dishes. He had the skills of a gourmet chef as everything he cooked tasted like it came from heaven. If I needed or wanted something, he said he would buy me two of everything. If I wanted to go to a special event, he would instantly make it happen (World Series, Rose Bowl, etc.) Some people might perceive this as being spoiled, but I knew that my uncle was showing me the only kind of affection he knew how and that was with all his heart. "I'll spare no expense" was his trademark and he meant it as he would make this cool sound with his tongue as he whipped through his wallet full of hundred dollar bills. You see it wasn't that my Uncle was well to do, it was that my uncle worked hard and enjoyed what he did to make a living. This is what I admire most.

What made my Uncle special was his never ending love, his unselfish attitude and most importantly his gift of healing. There wasn't anything he couldn't fix or anyone he couldn't mend. Some say my uncle should have been a Saint; all I know is he was my knight in shining armor. It seems like whenever I needed strength or guidance, my Uncle was always by my side teaching me the secrets of life. I can honestly say I grew up with little fear because I had an Uncle Eddie in my corner to pick me up when I was down and to remind me to live life to the fullest. I remember being so excited to spend the weekends with him because every day was an adventure. We would go to the movies for the day and eat popcorn until our stomachs ached. We would wrestle every night until I became strong enough to finally win a match. On Sunday's we'd sit in bed and listen to Aunt Bonnie read the funny pages with all her silly voices. The endless yard sales, swap meets and baseball card shows is what I remember most. Searching for the deal of a lifetime or a diamond in the rough. He taught me the value of a dollar and explained to me that with hard work and determination all your dreams will come true. Whether he was teaching me how to drive a stick shift or flying me to Vegas the day I turned 21, he was always there for every major milestone of my youth. When I became a man, you would think he would not possibly have the time to continue his flawless record of undying support but there he was guiding me through the two most important days of my life, my wedding and the birth of my son.

It didn't matter to him if his health was failing, he would not let losing a foot get in the way of being there for the loved ones he so deeply cared about. He was so special to my son, Luke, who affectionately called him "Uncle Grandpa". I believe this term has never been used or thought of to describe a loved one in the history of mankind. This alone should tell you how special this man truly was. Luke only had his "Uncle Grandpa" for 14 months, but I promised myself I would never let a day pass without showing him the love and support my Uncle gave to me. There isn't a single memory I won't cherish or a day that will pass that I won't think about my uncle. His love will always be inside me to help nurture my loved ones, but most of all his spirit will be with me so I can be strong for my Aunt Bonnie who made the other half of the "dynamic duo". I wish I could ask my Uncle one more question and if I could it would go like this: "How are we supposed to continue on without you?" I believe the answer is in our hearts and it will be a challenge for all of us to get through the tough times ahead, but remember my Uncle Eddie will always be there for you as he was for me. All you have to do is ask.

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