We Will Miss You, BILL.....

In respect for my older brother, Vasilios P. Patsourakos, who fell asleep in the Lord on February 1, 2010, there will be no articles written in the Theology and Society blog until after his funeral on Friday, February 5.

"Bill," as my brother was commonly called, was ill for the past four and one-half years. He miraculously lived for 10 months while on hospice, as a result of his wife Beverly's superlative care for him 24 hours a day. He died peacefully in his home with his devoted wife of 43 years by his side.

Bill was a member of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, and received a Certificate of Appreciation from that Church several years ago for taking care of all its legal work gratis for over 50 years. Bill was a lawyer, but first and foremost, he was a true Christian, who cheerfully gave to others and to his Church.

Bill enjoyed helping people, not only from a legal perspective (often gratis), but also in an unusually kind and understanding way. In short, Bill had a lot of empathy for others. Perhaps his wife, Beverly, described him best on one of my visits to their home. She said, "If Bill doesn't go to Heaven, I don't know who will." Bill, you will be dearly missed by all of us.....