Homage to SweaterWeek: Day 12 - Scattered Memories

Scattered Memories
Many Contributors

From Meera Krishna

I had the pleasure of knowing Robert in two contexts: first, as a fellow Dartmouth student and second, as the childhood best friend of my husband, David. I loved Robert from the moment I realized that we both knew all the words to Kelly Clarkson's freshman album, "Breakaway." 

Robert's sarcastic sense of humor amused me endlessly, and I deeply admired his honesty and authenticity. Indeed, Robert was always unapologetically Robert. One memorable example of this was Robert's response to my e-mail for David's 26th birthday party. In the invitation, I included a childhood photo of David, with Robert cropped out. Robert responded within 1 minute of me sending the e-mail with the following message:

"Meera, I wish you the slowest of slow painful deaths for cropping me out of the monster mash photo."

I want to take this opportunity to rectify my mistake and share the un-edited, un-cropped version of the monster mash photo:

From Matt Applegate

Opposing Hair Flips

I love this picture of Robert and David from David's wedding.

From Ben Wiener

I initially thought I would try to imitate Rob's style with a sweater week email of my own, but, looking back through the archives, I realized that was pretty much impossible.  Those posts were incredible: they came out of nowhere, arriving in your inbox one day, and bringing with them the knowledge that, over the next few days, you were in for a treat.   They were unique, and bizarre, and absolutely pee-in-your-pants hilarious.  Reading them, I always felt privileged to enter, just for a second, Rob's mind and humor -- it was like being let in on the greatest secret in the world.   

In some ways "[i]t has been a great success for everyone involved" was the perfect slogan.  The posts, and Rob's perspective, were so unique that there really wasn't anyone else involved.  At the same time, by sharing them with us, we were all involved, and it was a "great success."  

I feel, about sweater week, a bit the way I feel about Rob -- lucky to have been in his orbit and to have shared, far too fleetingly, his kindness, wit, and humor.  There was nobody else like him, and his loss has left a gaping hole.  I miss him, and there's not much more to say.  

From Elena Falloon

Here is a fond Dartmouth memory I think about often: soccer with Rob.  Missing him and that special time together in all our lives.  What a magical man.