When I first started working at this position I reported to Dean and after the project was over and I was reassigned to another task, Dean and I remained friends. We liked to talk about various subjects and there was a real connection there. Dean had been in the Navy and then returned years later as a civilian. We would joke about how much time he had until he could retire. First it was 1 year, x number of months and days. Recently it was down to months, days and hours - I think it was less than 9 months.
About a month ago Dean said he was not feeling good. Then he started to loose weight and finally he said the doctor thought he had cancer. Due to the HMO he belonged to, getting into see an Oncologist and getting a biopsy was a long process. The biopsy was performed on June 25.
Earlier in the week I gave Dean a bottle of Glendronach Single Malt Scotch - 15 Year Sherry Wood Finish, I might add. It is my favorite and through many discussions with Dean I had found out he liked a good Scotch too. I said that he might not want the present but that he would like it!
I did not find out the prognosis until yesterday as I was away all last week at Metals Week. Yesterday, I spoke to the other guys who work for Dean and they said it had been diagnosed as stage 4 pancreatic cancer which had also spread to his liver. He was not at work yesterday and the guys would check up on him today.
I just got the word that he passed away sometime between yesterday and today.
So Dean, I am going to raise a glass (or several) of Scotch to you and you wish good.