Larry Novick's Eulogy

January 9th, 2007

Larry's remarks were extemporaneous - there was nothing in writing but below is a copy of the poem he read.

Additionally he talked about how he and Ed met at about age 12 in the 3 class because the principal did not know in which class to put them ( Ed had been home-schooled and Larry was from a small town in Pennsylvania) and they turned out to be the two smart ones in the class, how Ed was almost always late for appointments, how Ed was late for his wedding because he forgot the plane tickets, and how even though they were in many ways unalike they were fast friends.

The Dash Poem

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Linda Ellis
1996

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Last Updated: February 14, 2007