Eric James Tate1989 - 2022

To my friend, my brother, and my Pookie…

It has been almost three months since you passed away and I still struggle to find the right words to convey the love and admiration that I have for you. It is still difficult to comprehend that you’re gone. It’s hard to imagine because you’re still here in so many ways, and the comforting part of that is you always will be. You remain present in every single one of us who had the honor and privilege of knowing you throughout your life.

There are things you just don’t see in the moment, and when I reflect on the 19+ years I had the honor of spending with you I see how many lives you have changed for the better. You showed so much compassion and love for those you cared about that the energy from those good deeds will carry on for generations.

I can still remember when I first met you during our freshman year of high school. Your character shined so bright even back then. You would wear this green windbreaker on days we would have an honor roll ceremony in the cafeteria, and you would smuggle back cookies to all your classmates who didn’t make honor roll. I didn’t see it at 14, but you always wanted to make everyone’s life around you better in any way that you could.

You changed my life in every way possible. You always made sure I was included in every activity, and that usually meant you lifting my 200+ pound wheelchair by yourself multiple times a day. Looking back, it’s hard to think anyone can be so caring or thoughtful to another human being, but to you it was just another day. That makes it even more incredible. You truly changed the trajectory of my life and introduced me to some of the most wonderful people that I will ever know. I will carry you with me for the rest of my life just as you carried me for so many years.

The courage you showed during your fight with cancer was the stuff of legends. When faced with unimaginable odds you did not flinch nor did your spirit waver. A wonderful man I once had the honor of knowing would’ve said you handled it with a “herculean” effort.

Saying goodbye to you that night at Hospice was the hardest moment of my life. I have never felt pain like that before. As excruciating as that pain was, it doesn’t come close to the wonderful years that I got to spend with you.

It will always be the biggest honor of my life to call you my Brother.

I will always love you Pookie,

Pookie