Saturday, January 7, 2012

Peter Pew

When Pete first contacted me, he was looking for some answers, he wanted any clue that would help him find relief from the pain he was in. Even though he was suffering, his heart would always move to a place far from his own problems. "How can this be happening to you, to Lauren, to any one with small children? It's so unfair" he would say. Although he would always contact me for a specific question regarding his own treatments, he would always end it concerned for everyone else, always with a sense of gratitude for all that he had, for all that he was. Pete would talk often about how grateful he was to have grown children, to have been able to spend time with them, real time towards the end. I often told him and his wife that I wish I had a magic wand. I've never wanted one more badly. I would erase the word angiosarcoma from all of our lives and none of us would know each other. I'd look deep in to the eyes of every stranger I met and smile to myself that there'd be no reason for us to be tied with an inexplicably tight bond that had as an anchor the pain and suffering of this disease. I'd hear the name Pete Pew and he'd be just another human being out in California going about his every day life completely oblivious to the cruelty of this monster. I wish I had that magic wand.

7 comments:

  1. RIP Mr. Pew, he was an amazing teacher

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  3. Mr. Pew was a brilliant, compassionate gentleman who maintained high standards, and expected no less from his students.

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  4. Mr. Pew was a brilliant, compassionate teacher who enriched the lives of anyone lucky enough to be in his class. He is the reason that I became a teacher.

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  5. I had William Pew as a teacher for only a semester and I have to say that he is perhaps the most inspirational teacher I've ever known. He expected so much of all his students that he would accept no less than their absolute best. He not only got a lot out of his students, but also knew them all personally. He truly cared and did his best to prepare them for whatever their lives may have held.

    It's wonderful to glean from this blog entry that Mr. Pew's compassionate spirit was never compromised, even when facing this horrible disease. He continues to serve as a source of inspiration to all of us, even after his passing.

    RIP, William. I hope you're happy wherever you are now.


    And to you, Corrie, thank you so much for all that you have done for everyone. I'm sure that the help and inspiration you've given to others with angiosarcoma, as well as to those who care about them has been invaluable.

    Fight on.

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  6. Peter was a kind, gentle, intelligent soul who inspired my children by how much interest and care he showed toward them. Fight on, Corrie! May you find that magic wand!

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  7. I had the pleasure of working with Peter for years as an AP Consultant from Honolulu to Seattle by way of San Diego. In those many years together, I was forever impressed by Peter's brilliance and sense of morality. He was indeed an outstanding teacher and instructor, but even more so, he was a man who firmly believed in his code of ethics. It was my good fortune to work and befriend Peter. He made my life much more enjoyable. I will miss his smile and tallness.

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