A Good Man

They sometimes say that a good man is hard to find…

But not so in the case of Dennis Page, Jackie’s beloved husband. A better, kinder, more interested and helpful man would be hard to come by.

So it is with such sadness that I want you, our dear chums, to know that Sunday evening Dennis passed away. Our hearts are so heavy with this loss but our spirits are beyond grateful to have known, and loved, and been loved by this wonderful man.

Jackie knows how blessed she was to have been Dennis’ wife and will cling to that blessing now, especially now, even in his absence. While he is physically away from us, he is, and will remain, very much alive in our hearts and minds. Even now I can hear his voice encouraging us all to keep going and just get on with the important things that need to be done.

Dennis Page was a remarkable man. He was honest and full of integrity. He embodied kindness. His mind and memory were truly unparalleled. He could recall all the details of events, even those from long long ago, and he always remembered everyone’s names. He loved a good movie, a good book, a good meal, his favorite pastime baseball, and above all his family.

And he loved to laugh! And laugh we did. Dennis would tell a silly joke or a funny story with a twinkle in his eye and then roar with laughter. Which of course made everyone around him laugh as well. And he never minded being the object of someone else’s funny story, and there were many that revolved around something he had done or said. He laughed right along with us all.

Dennis possessed an amazing confidence that allowed him to admit freely when he didn’t have an answer for something, (though it was rare that he didn’t know the answer to a question), he just never needed to appear as if he was as smart as we all knew he was. His greatest confidence though was not in his abilities or his intelligence. Dennis knew who he was, a beloved child of God. He knew he had a Heavenly Father who treasured him and that was the place where his confidence and security came from. That knowledge, and his unwavering faith in God and His goodness, freed him to be who God made him to be.

He was as comfortable with little children as he was the elderly and could always find something to engage anyone in interesting conversation. Anyone who talked with Dennis knew they were speaking with someone who was genuinely interested in them and what they had to say, what story they had to tell, what opinions they had on a subject. He was a fine listener, a very rare quality. He would often ask a question then listen intently to someone’s answer and ponder it with a far away look for a good long while before responding or asking a follow up question. He was interested in everything and everybody. That quality alone makes him a standout.

I would say that we will miss him, and in the physical sense of seeing him we absolutely will miss him, but Dennis Page, the essence of who he is, will remain with us like a gift he left to each person who he loved. He is cheering us on even now.

Is a good man really hard to find?…not if you knew Dennis Arthur Page.