Today, October 22, would have been my late husband Bob’s 85thbirthday. I had a party for his 84th.
He was my rock, my best friend, my confident – and the best husband ever.
We were blessed with many good years together. Bicycle Bob converted me to cycling, his passion. We had wonderful bicycle adventures all over Europe. Climbing mountains was his favorite. I struggled to follow him up to many Alpine peaks. I got my revenge on the ski slopes. Skiing may not have been his favorite, but he followed me down challenging runs – always a good sport.
We had enriching and memorable experiences during travels to distant lands: a wedding in Senegal, trekking to see gorillas in Rwanda, bicycling in Myanmar and Kenya, another wedding in India, and many more.
Rwanda: After a 3-hour trek uphill through the jungle, we reached the gorillas. It was thrilling – our most rewarding trip.
He loved our house in Reillanne, France, where we moved when he retired after working many years in Germany. He spent countless hours tending to his precious pine trees, started from seedlings growing in the cracks on the terrace of our rental apartment in Germany. He potted them, and repotted them time and again as they grew. At last they found a home in the ground in Reillanne where they flourished to become green giants standing tall like sentinels.
At night Bob often sat in his rocking chair on the balcony, smoking a pipe, sipping a Drambuie, savoring the silence and the beauty of a sparkling sky.
Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer five years ago, We downsized and moved to an apartment on the coast.
He missed his home, nighttime silence, stars, his pine trees….He knew his brain was slowly eroding. As the disease progressed, he became more and more depressed. But he loved getting out and being with friends. We still managed to have some good times – until he fell and broke his pelvis in December 2022. After a stay in the hospital, I tried to take care of him at home.
Sadly the fall and hospitalization accelerated his wicked, cruel disease. He was difficult, too difficult. I had to make a very difficult decision. Bob moved to a type of nursing home where he stayed until his death.
He was not happy in the home, often in agony about his brain. He rarely spoke. I visited daily. It was heartbreaking. There was nothing I could do to ease his pain.
The suffering ended on July 9. I miss him. I need him. However I am relieved that he is at peace. Thank you, my love, for a fabulous life
Following are more photos of Bob, some with me.
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Tales and Travel 
What a beautiful pictorial tribute to Bob. What an adventurous life the two of you led! Bob was a good man and loved you dearly. I hope your recovery is progressing smoothly. I was glad to read you were back in your apartment. There is indeed no place like home.
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Thank you Frances. We were indeed blessed with a good life.
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Leah, we were so saddened to hear of Bob’s death. We’ll have to catch up soon, when you feel up to it. So sorry to hear of your falls! Takes courage to enter the older years. Thinking of you.
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Hi Leah How are you getting along now?? We are now living on the Isle of Wight. Hope to hear from you soon . Love Bob n Jane xxxx (ex Montjustin which I miss…) Sent from my iPhone
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Greetings Bob and Jane. I am back in my apartment and trying to recover from my injuries. It is very very slow, I hope you enjoy island living
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Thanks for this tribute to Bob. I’m glad I have some memories of my own of times we were together but I am envious of the incredibly wonderful adventures you and Bob had. The photos capture your sentiments and Bob’s spirit.
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We did have some great adventures. Bob was the perfect travel companion. He liked discovery and was never opposed to venturing off the beaten track,
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Leah,
Our condolences. We’re very sad for you. If life isn’t hard, it’s harder. You have had a tough go of it.
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div>We too have had our challenges. For the last coup
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Thank you. I am coping,
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Thank you for this lovely and uplifting tribute to your great partner. I treasure the memories of many feasts chez vous that you and Bob hosted so graciously.
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They were fun events, Bob always enjoyed being the wine steward. I remember many culinary feasts chez toi.
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Wonderful memory to share of Bob and your incredible life of
discovery and adventure.
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I can’t complain. We were not couch potatoes. We explored, and it was rewarding.
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What a beautiful tribute. And what a huge loss for you.
When I recently finished a trip, the trip leader said “don’t be sad because it’s over, be happy because it happened.” I think about that when my heart. Is aching for my husband. Initially, the happy memories made me cry. Slowly, I’m starting to be able to reflect on those memories and relive them without pain. I hope that time comes quickly for you.
Sending hugs — and empathy — electronically to you.
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Thank you Shelley. I treasure the memories and am grateful we were able to enjoy so many adventures. Will I ever be able to enjoy adventures without him? It will be hard. I am glad to see you are on the road again., Thanks for the empathy. You are an inspiration.
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Such a lovely loving tribute to Bob, Leah. So many wonderful memories made over the years in Provence, enriching our lives immensely. More when we speak. With much love, Gayle & Ralph
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Yes, we had a good life in Provence. We never regretted settling here. Thanks for your comment.
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What a wonderful tribute to Bob and your lives together. We are so glad we could enjoy times, adventures and travel with you both and see your love for each other daily. We are reminded of Bob’s love of life, good food and wine and the twinkle in his eyes. We miss him and know what a difficult lose this is for you. Please know our thoughts and hearts are with you and we hope time and your good memories of Bob will ease your grief and bring you comfort.
Much love?
Kathy and Bob, Denver
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We often talked about great times we had with you and Bob. I have scrap books filled with wonderful memories. Wishing you a great snow season. Love to you and Bob.
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Thank you for the partnership you shared with Dad! We missed you this weekend but certainly enjoyed the celebration of Dad’s life. He will be missed deeply but the life he shared with us all was truly a blessing we’ll forever cherish!!
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I am very worry I missed the celebration of life for Bob, but so glad Kellie organised this meaningful event for his big US family and friends.
Yes, we were all blessed to have Bob ]in our lives.
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Hi Leah,
What wonderful memories.
You and Bicycle Bob had certainly shared many wonderful adventures together. We loved your friendship and company and visits to you in France and to us in Australia.
I bet Bob is back on his bike somewhere.
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Thanks Meg– good times with the Porsche club were definitely a highlight for me and Bob. We enjoyed your visits to us.and our memorable visit to you and Brendan in Melbourne. Hope you are right and Bob is back on his bike.
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We were so glad to see you and to have had the pleasure of getting to know Bob at the Brazil ‘66 Peace Corps Reunion in Maryland.
Your love for each other has an always been abundantly clear and an inspiration to all who know you.
He will be missed by you and also by many others.
God Bless you…
John and Jan Wunderlick
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Thank you John and Jan. I am so happy I got back in touch with Peace Corps Brazil at your reunion. Hugs to you both
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So sorry Leah to read about the loss of Bob. This is a moving tribute
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Thank you
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Lovely remembrance of Bob, Leah.
-Bill & Esther
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Leah. Wonderful. More when we get home. With Barbara at Grand Canyon RR in Williams, AZ headed to the GC. It’s been with Barbara almost four years now.
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Thanks Warren, I am glad you and Barbara are still getting out, traveling,
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Leah; dear cousin; this is both heartbreaking and heart warming. I grieve with you and am so grateful with you that you had adventurous Bob in your life. Much love, Anne
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Thank you Anne, I was lucky. We were a great team on and off the road
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Beautifully said. A rewarding life, and the distress of brain disintegration in his final years. So hard to watch, so hard to help.
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You are so right, The disintegration is devastating to witness. I am grateful. We did have a rewarding life,
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Bonjour Leah,
What a lovely tribute to Bob on his birthday.
It brought tears to my eyes. He was a quiet man, but an interesting one, and a deep thinker which came out in private conversations. He is missed.
You two made such wonderful memories together. Not everyone has had this opportunity.
The pictures are wonderful, as usual. They paint a beautiful picture of your times together. And, I was lucky enough to spend a couple of these times with you two.
Love, Karen
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Thank you so much dear Karen, You were a great help to us on those adventures we shared in recent times.. You are right on. He was a quiet, reflective, deep thinker. He was not quick to make judgment as I often do. He often opened my eyes to things I missed.
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Hello Leah
That is such a beautiful tribute to Bob. He was a man of few words and great presence. We had many happy moments when we were all in Provence, didn’t we.
Life plays some dirty tricks and we can but carry on. Bon courage. I hope you’re mending after your horrible accident.
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Good to hear from you, Gilla. Yes, we had fun times together, and I miss those good times. Like marches on, sometimes presenting “dirty tricks.” I am coping, but recovery will be very, very slow. Thank you for your comment.
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