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11:13:00 PM EDT
Feeling Sad
Hearing EJ: Funeral for a Friend
...and Into the Black
The roses in the window box
Have tilted to one side
Everything about this house
Was born to grow and die
Rest in peace, my friend.
Simply put, days like today SUCK! Running through a slamming day at work, in humidity you could take a bath in, shipping a laptop to an auction winner that I lost my shirt on, to walking to my porch to take dinner off the BBQ, being stopped by my phone ringing and hearing the words, “David, I have some terrible news to tell you…”
The news was that my former boss on AOL, and a person with whom I had developed a solid friendship with, Bob Wooldridge, had passed away this past weekend teaching his 8-year old son how to skateboard. What is ironic about his death is that the vision of a mid-forties man on a skateboard sums up Bob’s personality in a nutshell.
The first in-person meeting with Bob that most of the former ACI employees had was at the February 2003 conference in Reston, Va. He had made a presentation on what his vision for the future was for AOL Communities, his view was a combination of optimism, member enjoyment and humor laced in emphasizing every point he made. His vision was very encouraging, and bright. And what made his presentation over and above the ordinary “blah-blah-blah” was he rolled up his sleeves, and worked his ass off to make his vision a reality.
Bob and I formed a very solid bond very quickly over the time we worked together, mostly because there wasn’t a box large enough that either of us could be forced to think in when it came to programming ideas for the AOL Community. During my time at AOL, three people harnessed and fed my creativity, and gave me full credit for what I was capable of doing, accepting my “New Jersey” attitude, and saying “Politically correct, be damned.” Robert Wood, my direct supervisor was one. Bradley Kirkland, the man under whom the AOL Sports Community had its golden years, was the second. Bob Wooldridge was the third.
As his employee, I was fortunate to have experienced his combination to making things better than they are, and the environment of fun he exuded that made those of us who worked for him run through walls for him. His influence on me will be felt for the rest of my days.
Godspeed, Robert! I will miss you greatly.
-- Mo
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7/19/06 1:33 PM
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