My Grandpa written by Ben Gonzalez

“When someone tells you thank you, you respond with ‘you’re welcome’. Not ‘no problem’ or something like that. Because it shouldn’t be a problem or worry to help someone else out.”


He loved helping us with projects, be it wooden swords, a basketball hoop or homemade go-carts, he loved helping us create something special.

He taught us to carry humor into every aspect of our lives.

He showed us that sometimes you have to let the other man win not for yourself but for them.

He told us stories and jokes that will never be forgotten.

He never made any enemies and was loved by all, making positive interactions with almost everyone he came to know

He expressed the extreme importance of respect of one and ones personal belongings.

He woke up each day with a new joke to tell and a lesson to teach.

He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, friends, duct tape and PVC.

He watched each of his children and grandchildren grow supporting them along the way.


He was a father, husband, grandfather, teacher, coach, engineer, student, jokester, treasurer, outdoorsman and much, much more.

My grandfather’s way of life and attitude upon which he brought into my life everyday has left an everlasting mark within me. I hope to one day educate my children and grandchildren the way my grandfather educated me. The way he could entertain any crowd and always extract the absolute best of anyone he was around was momentous. His passionate sense of carefulness toward each and every person he met taught me to strive for the same. He would always teach my brother and I to try and solve our own problems. He taught us to: consider the situation; try something, then to try again with resilience, until finally if nothing prevailed he taught us to whip out the duct tape. He taught us love the things you love, be positive each day and to never stop learning in your lifetime. For each lesson or message he conveyed to us I am grateful. I am fortunate to have had such a figure in my life and his actions will never be forgotten.

We mourn the recent passing January 8th, 2017 of Rita Lasar, instrumental Co-Founder of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. ​Rita's son Matthew writes: On September 11, 2001 terrorists attacked the nearby World Trade Center. Rita's younger brother Abraham (Abe) worked in the North Tower of the complex, and perished while waiting for firefighters to help a wheelchair bound co-worker escape the building.Three days later President George W. Bush cited Abe’s courage in a speech before the National Cathedral, but Rita began to fear that her brother’s sacrifice would be used as justification for recklessness abroad. On September 17, she sent a letter to The New York Times that expressed this concern. “It is in my brother’s name and mine that I pray that we, this country that has been so deeply hurt, not do something that will unleash forces we will not have the power to call back,” she wrote. The letter attracted widespread attention. Dozens of spouses, children, and siblings of victims of the attack called or wrote to her to share their concerns.

Not long after this statement, Rita travelled to Afghanistan with three other victim family members to protest the US/NATO bombing of civilians. As the US deployed forces across the Middle East in the name of a “war on terror,” Rita chose another mission and path. “I will stay behind just as my dear brother did” she promised audiences. “I will stay behind and ask America not to do something we can’t take back.” In February of 2002 she became a co-founder of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. The group’s initiators, in the organization’s own words, shared “a belief that the violence that took their loved ones’ lives could spin out of control, and fear could be manipulated by politicians and the media to justify foreign and domestic policies that would increase violence while decreasing U.S. citizens’ rights and liberties over the years to come.” Rita spoke across the United States and around the world to protest the United States invasion of Iraq and to demand the closing of Guantanamo Prison. (https://www.90cubedrule.com/rita-lasar-1931-2017/)

Her fellow members of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows are forever indebted to Rita's leadership, her foresight, and unflagging courage and commitment to peace and justice as the underpinnings of a truly strong America. We commit to following the path she illuminated.

Read more: https://peacefultomorrows.org/members/rita-lasar/

Please add your own remembrances of this remarkable woman.

Tina Marie Bell, of State Park Place IL, died on January 4, 2017 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville Illinois. She was 53. She was born on January. 28th 1963. She is joined in death with her partner Joseph Rivoire (November 11 1987)and her parents, Joseph(November 26 2015) and Frances Bell(June 4 2016).
She leaves behind 6 children Elizabeth (and Joshua Carpenter), Bradley (and Ashley Howell), Christopher, Caleb, Gregory and Stephanie Bell. Along with 12 grandchildren Hannah, Jonathan, Baylyn, Cadence, Peyton, Nathan, Elijah, Branden, Cayden, Kayleigh, Ethan and Rowan. She will be greatly missed by us all. A memorial service will be announced and held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Tina's name at H.A Kassly Funeral Home in Collinsville Illinois.

It's been a long day without you Mom, we'll tell you about it when we see you again.

My darling, loving husband, deep music partner, legendary Jazz violinist & award winning composer Michael White made his final journey return to the ONE on December 6, 2016 at 9:35am in peace with a smile on his face. This song Skylark came to me, and I sung to Michael for seeing him off to Divine Spirit of Love ♡ Darling! I'm painting the picture with our sounds we cultivated and played together!

’Michael White’s Obituary by Leisei Chen’

’Jazz Violin Innovator Passed Away age 86; Wife Leisei Chen Pays Tribute | L.A. Weekly’

Please join us in remembering him by sharing your memories or photos, audios & videos of Michael White below. Thank you ♡

From the family of Ron Hottovy:

We are posting to inform all friends and family that know and love Ron that he passed away in his sleep on Dec. 31, 2016. Please keep Ron and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he will be deeply missed.

Ronald John Hottovy, 69, of Windsor, California, was born on Jan. 15, 1947 in David City, Nebraska, the son of John and Agnes (Kobza) Hottovy. While attending the University of Nebraska, Ron was a member of the AGR fraternity and joined ROTC. After graduating in 1969 with a degree in Business Economics, Ron was stationed at FE Warren Air Force Base as a 1st Lieutenant. While in the service, Ron earned his Masters in Business Administration in 1972 from the University of Wyoming and met his first wife, Judy Mahlum. After one tour of duty, he returned to Nebraska where he received his CPA. He started his business career with Coopers & Lybrand. Ron moved to Denver in 1976 where he accepted a position with Peat Marwick before moving into private business. In 2006, he relocated to California, and on Feb. 14, 2009, he married Gail Rubenaker.

Although Ron passed away on New Year's Eve, he was always the life of the party and would've selflessly wanted us to continue on without him as we head into 2017. No matter the circumstance, he always had a way of making everyone feel like they were welcome. Always quick with a story, he made it his goal to make sure that everyone in attendance was having a good time. Sure, in true Clark Griswold fashion, he may have been the one who almost set the house on fire during his family's annual Christmas Eve fondue parties, but he was also the first person to get you to the exits while helping you fine-tune the details on the story behind your death-defying escape.

Ron's warm personality extended beyond social situations, as his Catholic upbringing served as a foundation for being a coach on and off the field throughout life. Basketball was his true passion, and despite his claims that he could've been the next Kevin McHale if he was only "five inches taller", he may have been most happy in life teaching his children and their friends the virtue of a left-handed lay-up. Admittedly, many of Ron's skills couldn't be taught--his arsenal of low-post Dad moves seemed to have come directly from a bad March Madness commercial and his swimming pool hoops skills have become the source of many legends in more recent years--but nothing made him more proud than when one of the many players he coached over the years applied one of his lessons during a game situation. This continued even in the late years of his life, as no one was more passionate than Ron about breaking down FaceTime videos of his grandchildren and offering pointers about improving their future jump shots.

Given his love of basketball, it's not surprising that Ron was a passionate sports fan. While his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers always came first, he was always quick to adopt a team or cause that was close to someone he cared about. There were countless occasions where Ron would start a string of texts while watching an early-season non-conference game from one of his son’s schools to make sure everyone else was watching. Day or night, rain or shine, he was there to support his teams, and his level of loyalty rubbed off on those who knew him well. While not the easiest task raising a family in Denver, Colorado, he and brother-in-law John Shank resuscitated the Coloradans for Nebraska club during the late 80s and early 90s, inspiring a new generation of Big Red fans in the process. You may not have been a Cornhusker fan after meeting Ron, but you certainly left wanting to be a better fan for whatever team you cheered for.

Ron will remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather who was more proud of his family than any personal accomplishments. More important, his definition of family extended well beyond his wife Gail, his sons and their families, and his grandchildren. Simply put, if you were in Ron's presence, you were part of his family. Ron's mother passed away in October, and while we gathered to celebrate, it was clear to all that were at the ceremony that he wasn't in the greatest of health. However, this wasn't a concern for Ron; instead, he tried his best to ensure that all in attendance were part of the party. Ironically, we found a bar in Columbus, Nebraska--a stone's throw from the David City haunts he frequented in his younger years--that had a basketball hoop out back where Ron spent his time dispatching relatives in games of H-O-R-S-E with ridiculous English and ruthless efficiency shot-after-shot. While he had spent most of his life showing us how to shoot, he was most happy watching us trying to beat him--which, if we're being honest, wasn't possible on the courts that afternoon or in life. Call him GP Ron, call him Uncle Ron, call him Dad, he will be missed. Then again, we don't envy God when he's sorting out sides for shirts versus skins.

In addition to his wife Gail, Ron is survived by Sons R.J. Hottovy and his wife Kate, Andy Hottovy and his wife Laura, and Pat Hottovy and his wife Erin; Step-Daughter Heather (Rubenaker) Davila; Step-Son Chance Rubenaker; Granddaughters Grace and Madeline Hottovy; Grandson Nolan Hottovy; Step-Grandson Ian Davila; Step-Granddaughter Ellie Davila; Sisters Paulette Shank and Carol Glasshoff; Brothers John, Les, Tom, Steve, Scott, and Paul Hottovy.

Memorial contributions may be made to:
The University of Nebraska: https://nufoundation.org/unl
Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado: https://www.regisjesuit.com/advancement
Aquinas High School in David City, Nebraska: https://www.aquinas-catholic.com/alumni/giving-programs/