Hi Packer's Little Girl:

Hope this day finds you knowing how much your dad was loved and respected on this forum for his candor, support, and at times off-color, right-on wisdom. Many of us counted on his spunk and unfailing zest for life, his love of you and Dee, and his soft spot for pets and most of all, his ability to see beyond himself and reach out to us here even when he was feeling at his worst.

It is a very gracious act for you to mention OCF at Packer's service. I am sure many OCF members would like to send condolences to Dee. I am reluctant to post the home address without knowing if this is okay. Please respond if you see this message and indicate if it is okay.

To my fellow OCF members who knew Packer, it is with a heavy heart that I write today after hearing the news of Packer's passing last eve. He was one of the first people to reach out to Dave and me when we were lucky enough to stumble upon OCF in August, 2002. I'm sure there are no accidents and the combination of first responders Brian and Packer was a prelude to the continued gift that is this site.

I appreciate the opportunity to vent this morning. I realized that Packer has always represented for me the pillar of strength and hope in this awful fight against oral cancer. I counted on him to make it even when the odds were against him because that is what he always has done ever since I have known him. That man could own a hospital room and charm every nurse with a simple wink and a furiously fast hand writing notes. Packer taught me here on this site and even more poignantly in person that you don't have to speak, be physically perfect by societal standards, and that real men can indeed drool and remain dignified. It was impossible to meet Packer and not come away different than when you entered his space.

So, when I heard the news last eve, I felt a bit of the pillar of my hope for the future had crumbled. This morning, I realize that Packer quietly did with conviction what will become a new source of support for all us still fighting. He demonstrated unfailing strength,good humor, grace of character, and empathy toward others admist his own trying times. These were the cornerstones of Packer's life and the legacy he has left for us here at OCF.I'm thinking the pillar hasn't crumbled after all-I just hadn't noticed before how integral Packer was to building this infrastructure.

Kim