Chester Joseph Kowal

RIP Chester J. Kowal, my jack of all trades and master of all.

A study in contrasts: a bespectacled scholar of history, physics, and astronomy, a blue collar plumber, carpenter, electrician and mechanic; a taciturn man who enjoyed chatting for hours on an airplane with a boy from Kenya, a woman from India, a grandfather from Turkey; a man whose heroes ranged from Albert Einstein to Ludwig von Beethoven; a man as stubborn as a mule, a lover of dogs and cats and ducks and geese, a man who left the lights on in the barn at night for the little calves; an engineering man with the analytical mind of a stalwart conservative and a heart that was liberally sweetened by generosity and tolerance. He was my man of deep wells and still waters, the man for all of my seasons.

My last and greatest gift to him was death at home. He slipped away silently and peacefully in his sleep as I sat by his bed. I will always believe that he willed it that way. It was his greatest gift to me. I never loved him more.