July 19, 2004: Will - Langskib

Burke-

Heeeey. I miss you man. You were truly the greatest man I knew, and next to my parents, the biggest role model. You always said that you had too much “north” in you, but I don’t think you saw the amazing amount of “South” that you possessed. You were the most self-less person I knew. You taught me the lessons with which I try to live my life by. As I mentioned in my last e-mail to you, I am striving to live my life with as much integrity as I can.

Last night I realized how lucky I was to have been able to go out on trail with you. The “New York Times,” described you as a “Camping counselor for an organization that took city children on trips to Canada, Where you taught them canoeing and camping skills.” That doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. Sure, you taught us how to run white-water and how to cook bannock quickly, but that was only the beginning. You taught us to do what was right, even if there isn’t anyone around to see you or thank you.

Langskib will not be the same without you. However, in a couple of years a new breed of trip-leaders by the names of “Win, Will, Conner, Kristof, Max, and Simon, “ will come up through the ranks and begin to lead trips. Sure, we’ll teach them some “Canoeing and camping skills,” but ,more importantly, we will pass on the lesson you gave to us. Hopefully, we’ll have as big an impact on them as you had on us, so when they become trip leaders, they too will pass on ides like integrity. You may physically be gone, but your memory will never leave me. Teeth to the Wind.

Will