Andy and I were very close at one time. We met when we were six. In the Knickerbocker Knolls split level homes, Andy was a semi-regular in my famed wiffle ball games every year. Over the years, we drifted apart. He moved into my Miami neighborhood the same year I moved to San Diego. Missed connection. He attended the 35th reunion and I didn't. I attended the 40th reunion and he didn't. Missed connection. Too late, I learned of his great website (andrewegol.com) chronicling his medical condition in his final days and his zest for life. Andy was divorced after decades of marriage with two children. I was divorced after decades of marriage with two children. Andy's daughter married the son of one of my son's classmates and I found this out too late.
Missed connections.
We are now at the age that losing classmates will happen with greater frequency. Such is life and death. What hurts is when one we know as vibrant and as full of life as Andy, is one of those fallen classmates.
Check out Andy with his gang in the Yearbook pictures. He is front and center in his kingdom leading the class in a 'smoking' photo.
If you have an 'Andy' story, I know his friends, past and present, would like to hear about it.
We often talk about how close our class is. We were close in 1968 and many of us remain close today.
I announced the football team at a pep rally in 1967.
I made up colleges that the boys attended.
When it came to Andy (both he and I were Jewish), I paused and said, 'from Yeshiva University, Andy Egol.'
His look of disbelief said it all.
Once again, as I did most of the time, I shocked him beyond words.
I regret not being closer to Andy before his passing, but I cherish the memories we shared.
RIP
Andy Egol
1950-2010
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