Yesterday, I got the news of the passing of my long time great friend Randy Kennerly. We met in a life drawing class soon after I moved to Boulder, and shortly thereafter became fast friends to this day.
Randy and his wife Jeanne became like my family for almost 30 years. I had dinner with them every Thursday night for more than three decades, and felt myself so lucky to have access to them. Our dinner conversations were stimulating in so many ways. Some of the most influential books I ever read were recommended by Randy, and it’s an understatement to say that he helped me navigate life. Randy was like an older, wiser and better read brother or uncle to me. Unlike my own parents, he and Jeanne were intensely interested in me, my experiences and my thoughts.
We traveled together on bike tours in many countries. I guess I can take credit for bringing them on their first bike tour outside the US to England, which initiated many other trips to Greece, Costa Rica, Sardinia, France, Slovenia, Portugal, Corsica, Ireland, Sicily and Colombia.
The photo above is Randy and Jeanne in Greece in September 2005 – one of his favorite tours!
I could always count on them being on my side and taking the time to hear the whole story. They knew my entire family and most of my friends by name and disposition, but they didn’t meet them all.
Randy was a voracious reader, and he could converse on a huge variety of subjects. He was a physicist by education and vocation, but retired early to pursue other things, including art which is how we met. He studied Italian, French, Spanish and Greek..wherever we were traveling. He also played the piano pretty well!
His last years were progressively marred by aphasia and dementia, which was painful to watch and experience, both for him and those around him. His passing is sad but I am happy that his suffering is over. I ride for you now! Rest in Peace, Randy.
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