The Passing of a True Longhorn Baseball Fan

H

hookem2102

250+ Posts
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Son,

My heart goes out to you. I knew your grandfather, and he was a kind and caring individual. It was always a pleasure to visit with him at Fantasy Island, and I knew he'd always have a smile for me.

The world did, indeed, just lose a great guy, but Heaven gained one, and we can take great joy in the knowledge that we'll see him again by and by.

My deepest condolences for your loss.
 
S,

I'll miss him and keeping an eye on him while you went to park. And making sure that he was taken care of when you weren't there.

I enjoyed his company and knowing him.

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Son-so sorry to read this news. Your grandfather was a kind and amiable man, and always spoke to me at the tailgates.
I always enjoyed seeing him there, and he truly seemed to love being on the scene at Disch-Falk. Kudos to you for enabling him to attend the games.
Hopefully he is enjoying a great game at the Field of Dreams now.
Prayers and condolences to you and your family for the loss of this fine man.
 
Son,
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Your grandpa was very sweet and I could tell he truly enjoyed going to games and hanging out with you and your daughter.
 
Sorry for you loss.
What a great tribute to "Popo" .
he'll have the best seats in the house now for Longhorn Baseball !

Condolences and Prayers.
 
My prayers are with you, S.
He was indeed a fine man and he will be missed.
Sorry for your loss.
 
S,
Thank you for letting us know of your grandfather's passing. We're sad but feel fortunate you shared him and your thoughts of him with us. Prayers for your family.
 
I am so sorry to hear about your loss....
I'm glad you shared this story with everyone.
Your family will be in my prayers
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Hearing this story makes me miss my Texas family more and more... Robert, take care of my grandfather for me and I hope to see you all soon!!
 
Many of you know me, and many of you know my grandfather, all through Texas Baseball. For 20+ years my "Popo" (and my father who passed 5 years ago) have taken me to the Disch to see our mighty Horns play college baseball. I can remember running around the Disch, not a care in the world. The only thing to fear was those damned old meanies who would hunt down the foul balls hit to the stands. (Back then you weren’t allowed to keep them) At one point we had box seats just a few rows behind the plate. I never got the story why, but we gave them up one season and then each year we were moved about the stadium until about 5-6 years ago when we were moved to 104 where we have been ever since. Our “seatmates” have become a big part of our baseball family. As I have gotten older, I don’t run around so much, but I do cause trouble when I can.

When my daughter was 7 months old, she began coming to the games with us. In the last couple of years, I have allowed her a bit more leeway to run around. Watching my grandfather watch her was fun. He always had plenty of stories to tell me about how much she reminded him of me. You could tell he loved being there with us. Many people wonder why I get so much freedom from my wife (coming and going as I please), but when asked we always laugh and explain that from late February through June I disappear for weekends at a time, and my daughter is always with me so my wife gets her break then.

In the last couple of seasons I have tried to repay my grandfather in some small way as age, dementia, and Alzheimer's took away his ability to drive himself to the games. I really enjoyed the look on his face when we'd walk up to the tailgate together, he would perk up almost instantly. He was always especially pleased when he found out it was Robert’s turn to cook. You could tell he sensed that the Alzheimer’s was taking him away a piece at a time, but for 3-4 hours, once a week or so, he would let go of his worries and enjoy one of his favorite pastimes.

Monday afternoon, he went for a swim as he has done every summer afternoon as long as I have been alive. When my Grandmother went to check on him, she found him unconscious and called 911. APD and EMS showed up and were able to get his heart started again and they took him to the ER. He has been on a ventilator for a couple of days, and based on his wishes, we removed it today. It didn’t take but a short time; I think he knew it was time to go.

I think back to his trip to the CWS in 01 with my father and my uncle. I was invited, but with an infant at home and a new job, I just couldn’t make it. Then, after we lost my father in August ’03, we made a trip to Omaha, me, Popo, and my Uncle. It was a trip that I wanted to make so that I could share something with my grandfather that I had missed with my father. Oddly, we didn’t win those years but we won in each of the following years. We liked to joke that Augie should pay our family to go every other year just so he would bring a title home every other year. I look forward to taking my daughter in another year or two and sharing something with her that I have shared with my father and grandfather.

I expect Jose has been holding a seat in heaven for my grandfather, probably right next to my father’s. I’m so glad he’s found peace, and I just know he’s going to love the view.
 
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