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Blogs by Alex Drinkwater, Jr.
For a Friend: a Eulogy 9/5/2006 12:15:10 PM
Alex Natale - R.I.P. I was going to write tonight about my trip to Italy over the long weekend and how, as beautiful as that country is, the worst of American pop culture is desecrating virtually everything that's beautiful. Hip-hop "music" is pervasive, graffiti is all over the place, and McDonald's greets you as you meander through the labyrinthine back alleys of Venice. But . . . I found out when I got back today that a good friend of mine, Mr. Alex Natale of East Providence, R.I., died Monday morning. I've known Alex for over twenty years and he was a kind and decent man, always smiling and good for a laugh even when things were not going well for him. He and I and another very good friend, Mr. Fred Ostfeld, traveled to Germany together in 1987. Earlier tonight Fred and I were reminiscing on the telephone about that trip and the fun we had . . .
Tonight I feel guilty because, while my girlfriend Cathy and I were living it up in Italy, my friend was dying.
I feel guilty because circumstances preclude my traveling to R.I. to attend the funeral.
Most of all, I feel bad because I've lost a good friend.
He was 76, he had cancer, diabetes, and bad kidneys and it was, of course, inevitable.
As Fred said, no matter how much you're expecting it to happen, it still shocks you when it does.
Alexander Natale, died Monday, 4 October 2006
Rest in Peace Alex and may perpetual light shine upon you.
Amen
