William Thompson Iii

I met Bill & Elsa when, as a Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter, I wrote about their Bird Watcher's Digest.
He and she were very fine folks, so much so that when my travels took me anywhere near Marietta, I made time for a visit with them.

I am not a personal friend, I am not a neighbor.....you don't even know me....but I feel as if I know Bill and his entire family. I stumbled across Julie Zickfoose's blog once after hearing an interview on NPR and, frankly, it was her guy Chet Baker that made me come back day after day. Her descriptions of that silly dog and his antics helped me realize that our silly Fenway Underfoot Woodard was a completely "normal" Boston terrier.

And reading the blog opened my eyes, once again, to...

I just heard and am so ,so saddened - and so very, very sorry.
Such a bright light, he was - always a source of smiles and laughter-and of course a song or two - and then there were the birds!
He had a way of making everyone he spoke with feel he was truly listening and present.
Enriching the lives of so very many, his absence will truly be felt - far and wide....such a legacy he leaves...
Praying God's comfort and the peace only He can give - the peace that passes...

I am shocked and saddened of the very recent news of losing my childhood fiend Bill. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the loss of Bill. Memories of playing baseball across the street in the Park and jamming with him, his dad, and Bruce Demol will stay with me forever. What a wonderful person we have lost! God bless you and your family Bill.

Steve Curtis