I was stunned to start my work week this week with the sad, sad news that Herb has left us. I worked with Herb early in my Boeing career which has now passed the 30 year mark. So I've known Herb for decades though it surely seems it should be a much shorter time than that! The years have passed so quickly since we were both systems engineers updating the B-52. I left in the early 90s to work on

I was stunned to start my work week this week with the sad, sad news that Herb has left us. I worked with Herb early in my Boeing career which has now passed the 30 year mark. So I've known Herb for decades though it surely seems it should be a much shorter time than that! The years have passed so quickly since we were both systems engineers updating the B-52. I left in the early 90s to work on a new commercial airplane in Seattle, the 777. After that I became a bit of a migrant worker for Boeing landing a decade or so later again in Wichita and then, finally now back in Seattle. Through all the years and the changing geoography, Herb and I always stayed in touch. He gets all the credit for that as he never once in all the years failed to e-mail me on my birthday wishing me the best and always making my day! We traded e-mails in the spring as well to check in on his nearly annual fishing trip. And he kept me up to date on our mutual Wichita friends and coworkers. On my last assignment in Wichita we were neighbors (on Capri for me) before he built his new home in Derby. Both my kids and I enjoyed the black truck stopping by for an evening visit at the curb on so many evenings. Herb introduced us to the best of Vietnamese cuisine, one of our family favorites to this day. He had an 18K gold heart, was a gifted engineer, the ideal teammate, knew the meaning of family and friend so much more than most. I will miss Herb every day. His parting is so untimely and it will be a while before I will come to terms with the fact that his retirement was cut far too short. My sympathy goes out to the family. I know the loss is so very great and I will keep you in my prayers for comfort and peace that surpasses understanding.

Debi