In Memoriam
 

It’s been almost a month since I found out what had happened to you. Like so many others who knew you and loved you, I still can’t believe it. I’m in denial. No, not the river in Egypt! I just don’t want to accept that I won’t ever see you again or hear your voice.
 

I stapled your picture, the one with that classic one raised eyebrow, on the wall next to my computer. In a sense you are here, right here with me. Your picture motivates me to fight the good fight and I often reminisce the many "Wenzelisms" I heard you utter over the years. Like when right after attending Essen’s seminar all you said was "if you have a file, you’ve got a trial!" And you repeated it over and over like a warrior’s mantra or a broken record. And trials you had! Or the time you cross-examined one cop during Forrest Williams’ DUI trial (the guy who got arrested one nite during his trial and still showed up the next day) and you kept hounding the cop by asking "is that fair?" And when the cop answered you repeated, "But officer, is that fair?" and you did it over and over just like a two year old who refuses to accept the answer.
 

You were one of a kind. Who’d ever think you, as short and stocky as you were, were the fitest person I ever knew? So much for 6-pak abs! Our last communication was via email. I meant to write more, sorry I got sidetracked. Through your passing we can’t help but wonder why righteous and special people leave us before we think their time is up. I am sure G-d knows better than me, I hope one day I will understand. Once the shock wears off, I will have to accept the reality of what has happened. Brian said you’d be uncomfortable with all of this outpouring of affection and would say something like "why all the long faces?" It’s not so much the long faces as it is the broken hearts. We are not ready to let go of you or to confront our own destiny. We want to enjoy you more, but we have no other choice, but to settle for what we had. However much that was, it wasn’t nearly enough.
 

The Kabbalah teaches that our soul keeps returning to earth in order to fix defects from the past. I suppose the repair work your soul had to do was minimal and easy for you to complete, but really you could have taken your sweet time!
 

I will think of you often and make a point to keep you in mind when making kiddush or when under my tallis during the priestly blessing. So, my friend, watch over and protect us. Bless us. And know you impacted all of us in a way that made us so much, much more than what we were before we knew you! We will endeavor to keep your memory alive. Maybe we should have an annual "Wenzel Day."
 

May your family be comforted amongst all of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. I will make a donation to Chabad in your honor.
 

Shalom,
Rob Malove
Robert Malove

Please note my new phone number:

754-423-4304