Bob Newman is the nicest man I have ever met. For the past almost-29 years, he's been my father-in-law. That changed yesterday, when he went to be with the Lord at 94 years and 3 days young.

“Nice” doesn't begin to capture it, though. In his later years, he fought dementia and Alzheimer's - but, unlike so many of these patients, he didn't change. He would forget that he already asked if there was anything he could do to help, or forget that he'd already shared a compliment. His heart was genuine, even when his mind wasn't keeping up anymore.

There are lots of other adjectives I can use - kind, honest, steadfast, wise, all good ones. He lived a very full life, and always gave 100% in everything he did. When I joined the family, he was an active Shriner; working in long-term-care insurance; serving as a lay leader at his church; studying Scripture in a years-long intensive; and was the emergency delivery guy for his wife's Mary Kay directorship - all at the same time, at an age where people usually think about slowing down! He also worked with the Better Business Bureau, Comfort Keepers, and HomeWatch Caregivers in his retirement.

Of course, I was joining a story already in progress. He served in Korea in the early 1950s, earning the Bronze Star. He worked several positions with Bell Telephone (and its other names). He worked his way through the Masons to become a Shriner, and served in leadership at the Kerbela Temple in Knoxville, TN. He raised two daughters who (rightly) think the world of him.

Throughout all of this, Bob was never the focus of Bob's story; everything he did was focused on others. I'm nowhere close to the only one who has noticed that, including Charles Fels, an Episcopal priest who served with Bob at his church. A few years ago, Bob received the John J. Duncan Award for Senior Advocacy given by the Knox County Community Action Committee's Office on Aging, and Charles presented Bob's bio. I can think of no finer tribute to Bob than this presentation and acceptance.