I threw dirt on a man who didn’t deserve it.
You probably don’t know him. As far as I know, he had no real plans to conquer the world. No, he was quite happy living his life quietly inside the Perimeter in Atlanta. So chances are, you’ve never run into him.
His name you ask? Adam Stine. And for nearly ten years, he was married to my sister Stephanie. Adam was all I could have asked for in a brother-in-law. Why? Simple — He loved my sister. And that love made her a better woman.
So I think it’s only right that I tell you a little about him. Adam was a little older than me. And a little shorter. I have blonde hair — he had black. We were different in a lot of ways. His eyes were like coal and twinkled when he smiled. Oh, he smiled a lot. Adam was a “the glass is half full” kind of guy. And he was brilliant. As an engineer, he was a real problem solver. He loved comic books, kids, science fiction, single-malt scotch, reading, his family and his friends. Ah, his friends. Did he ever value his friends. I saw them Sunday. They threw dirt on Adam, too.
A couple of years ago, Adam got dealt a crappy hand of cards. But in typical Adam fashion, he played them with a smile, an open heart and more courage than any man I know. You see, he was diagnosed with ALS (or better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) It’s a cruel, slow death — and yet, Adam was convinced there would be a cure found in time. That was Adam for you: Positive in the face of doom. His friends rallied around him and my sister. Adam could have quit — but he didn’t. He continued to live his life as he lost control of his body. It was that body that held his mind prisoner at the very end.
That end was Friday. ALS took Adam Stine from my sister. From his family. From his friends. It took the best brother-in-law imaginable from me. And all I could do the end is throw dirt on him.
I brushed off my hands at the gravesite and looked across the cemetery at the sea of cars. Friends and family crowded around to pay their last respects. I thought about what Clarence the Angel said to George Bailey –” No man is a failure who has friends.”
And at that moment, I realized, Adam Stine was the most successful man I’ve ever known.
I am sorry for your family’s loss, Marshall.
My condolences to you and your family, Marshall.
What a nice post that you wrote about Adam.. Your love and concern for him gave him a much better quality of life even tho his precious life was slipping away. So many people die with no compassionate brother in law like Marshall Ramsey– so Adam was also very lucky! He left all of you a lifetime of memories about his amazing courage! His gift will be his dream of a cure for this hideous disease… I am sure you will be active in that cause.
Honestly, it has nothing to do with me. It’s all about my respect for him, my sister and their friends.
Adam was a Blessing to all that knew him. I did not have that pleasure but so many did. God blesses us through others. Let Adam live on through the memories. God bless you and yours.
How awesome of a person, Marshall , and your sister is also very special to have loved such a man and to cherish her vows as was meant to be. In good times and bad love and God will get you through.
A fitting tribute to a loving and brave man.
What a loving tribute for a man who was so obviously loved by many.
Beautiful tribute, Marshall.
Well done, Marshall.
My condolences to you, your family, and Adam’s.
My family has lost three (yes, 3) members to ALS. I understand your feelings perfectly. My condolences.
What a tear jerker. Made me miss my Mom, Dad, Grannie, Brother in Law, Best Friends… all whom gone on to be with the Lord. Hope right now Adam is happy.. Rip.. as he waits on his love ones & friends to join him. Life goes by so fast. Hope his Family can deal & move forward in a happy way! God Bless!