Eric's Words

When Rita called me and asked me to speak today I was so honored.

But I struggled with the request because as I looked up and asked my friend Bruce what he would want, I realized that he would never have shown up

and frankly I didn’t want to either.

I’d much rather be hangin’ with him on the beach talking about the latest technology, Like the Iphone.

Bruce really disliked ceremonial functions (even Jeff and I filled in at the ceremony to pick up Bruce’s Segway that he won in a charity auction)…But he esp. disliked memorials. I don’t know how it came up in one of our discussions, but I remember him vividly telling me. Maybe I remember so well because I dislike them too.

So, I have to laugh a bit here because, true to form, Bruce didn’t even make his own. He’s still figured out a way to avoid the one thing that’s unavoidable. And he got me here to boot. In a way I’m glad he’s not here because he would want the AC on full and the Temp down another 10 degrees………

When I started writing out what I wanted to say today I started of thinking of a few stories I wanted to share. But I realized two things, first, I would be standing up here for hours and second, I might just bore you.

So, I’m not going to tell the story about the time Bruce bet me to eat four orders of tortellini…..

And I won’t talk about how Bruce ended up swinging from a hammock hook he got stuck on his pants as he jumped a wall.

Or the story of us climbing the cliffs at Trafalger Falls in Dominica.

Or running out of gas in the Blue Mts of Jamacia

Or even… how we first met

What I do want to talk about is how Bruce was able to have wonderful stories with all his Friends …. Like the stories Tim has told

or Stu’s story of Bruce inviting him to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner because Stu’s family lived in Ca.

And Ghattas’ story of pleading with Bruce for a job and gaining the wonderful knowledge Bruce could instill in him.

All of us here have these special kind of memories….memories that will make us smile for many years to come. April, Littman, Melonie, Mark …all of us….have stories and laughter to share, and I look forward to doing so for many years…because that’s how many stories there truly are and that’s what Bruce what would want, friends of friends becoming good friends. In fact, we all probably know more about each other than we care to realize or share.

Ok, I will share two quick personal stories –

Bruce… never one that liked to lose and never one to back down.

We were down at Nathan’s bar one night…and earlier that week we had mutually, or so I thought, decided not to attend an annual function in Acapulco.

Our schedules just wouldn’t permit it. Well after casually saying to Bruce that it was him that had the scheduling conflict, he denied it…

Then he blamed my decision not to go as the problem ……Because, he wanted to go.

So, I one upped him and told him I had my passport in hand (which was a wise thing to carry when we were together).

I called his bluff and he didn’t back down…. And neither did I ……and to the airport we went…

with little more than our passports and money in our pockets, we went to the Annual BabyO Pajama party and stayed just one night. I think Bruce has the video of that trip!! I hope he burned it……

Now trips and journeys were a large part of what defined Bruce. In fact we both had a passion for it. We even started a magazine called Destinations.

Now it didn’t hurt that as Publisher and editor we would have to review properties. I recall very early in our development of the magazine setting up a free or “comped” trip to a little location called Curtain Bluff in Antigua. It was owned by Howard Hulford, a very colorful Yosemete Sam type guy… and I say that not just because of appearances but because of the foot long hotdog sized freshly rolled cigar he would smoke.

Howard really out did himself for us… Setting us up in separate villas with beautiful bathrooms overlooking the ocean and perched on a glorious cliff. We were off to a good start with the magazine….so we thought…… It wasn’t until we sat down with Howard on our third day, that things got a little clearer.

You see in that conversation in between puffs of that huge cigar, Howard asked us how long we had been with “Departures”…. Now Bruce and I looked at each other and quickly realized that Howard had thought we were with the American Express magazine “Departures” and not our little unknown, soon to be published “Destinations”…. Well not to disappoint we gracefully slid around that question and started to ask our own. Having felt that we had never mislead nor contributed to the misunderstanding we in good conscience stayed two more days.

But still the most memorable part of that trip was when we were dining one evening. You see, Curtain Bluff had and may still have, the reputation of the largest and finest wine cellar in the Caribbean. And that’s important to the story because as we were dining Howard came over asked what we were having for dinner and asked what wine we were pairing with it. Now before Bruce had a chance to speak, I suggested Howard, as a wine connoisseur, select one for us.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bruce’s eyes wider and the expression on his face spoke volumes….Now it took me a second to realize what I had done. I had just taken our comped trip and raised the stakes by one of the most expensive bottles ever uncorked in the Caribbean. I can still picture Bruce pulling off the wine label on that bottle, ‘cause if we were gonna pay for it, he was going to have that label…………. ……My bad Bruce

So why tell you these stories? Stories about a guy who was careful to keep everyone a little in the dark……..To help you know the Bruce I knew…….

Well I’m on strict orders from Rita to keep it light and no longer than six minutes…. And I’m going to do my best to honor her wishes.

One other lil note…..

I can just tell you this…… Bruce had the kindest heart…. He tucked it away sometimes, but if you knew him, you understood what a sensitive guy he was. He loved travel, and spin of a good tale. He loved looking out for others and meeting people where ever he went.

I am so proud and honored that he traveled and spent time with me. I aspire to be half the man he was.

One of the last things he said to me was thank you for your friendship and he loved me.

..........……..he was a loved friend

So I raise my glass to a classic Bruce toast:

There are true pains

And there are Champagnes

There are true Friends

And there are sham friends

Heres to true pain for sham friends

And Champange for true friends

- Eric Moreno

	Bruce Waldack Memorial Service Words from Eric Moreno When Rita called me and asked me to speak today I was so honored. But I struggled with the request because as I looked up and asked my friend Bruce what he would want, I realized that he would never have shown up and frankly I didn’t want to either. I’d much rather be hangin’ with him on the beach talking about the latest technology, Like the Iphone. Bruce really disliked ceremonial functions (even Jeff and I filled in at the ceremony to pick up Bruce’s Segway that he won in a charity auction)…But he esp. disliked memorials. I don’t know how it came up in one of our discussions, but I remember him vividly telling me. Maybe I remember so well because I dislike them too. So, I have to laugh a bit here because, true to form, Bruce didn’t even make his own. He’s still figured out a way to avoid the one thing that’s unavoidable. And he got me here to boot. In a way I’m glad he’s not here because he would want the AC on full and the Temp down another 10 degrees……… When I started writing out what I wanted to say today I started of thinking of a few stories I wanted to share. But I realized two things, first, I would be standing up here for hours and second, I might just bore you. So, I’m not going to tell the story about the time Bruce bet me to eat four orders of tortellini….. And I won’t talk about how Bruce ended up swinging from a hammock hook he got stuck on his pants as he jumped a wall. Or the story of us climbing the cliffs at Trafalger Falls in Dominica. Or running out of gas in the Blue Mts of Jamacia Or even… how we first met What I do want to talk about is how Bruce was able to have wonderful stories with all his Friends …. Like the stories Tim has told or Stu’s story of Bruce inviting him to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner because Stu’s family lived in Ca. And Ghattas’ story of pleading with Bruce for a job and gaining the wonderful knowledge Bruce could instill in him. All of us here have these special kind of memories….memories that will make us smile for many years to come. April, Littman, Melonie, Mark …all of us….have stories and laughter to share, and I look forward to doing so for many years…because that’s how many stories there truly are and that’s what Bruce what would want, friends of friends becoming good friends. In fact, we all probably know more about each other than we care to realize or share. Ok, I will share two quick personal stories – Bruce… never one that liked to lose and never one to back down. We were down at Nathan’s bar one night…and earlier that week we had mutually, or so I thought, decided not to attend an annual function in Acapulco. Our schedules just wouldn’t permit it. Well after casually saying to Bruce that it was him that had the scheduling conflict, he denied it… Then he blamed my decision not to go as the problem ……Because, he wanted to go. So, I one upped him and told him I had my passport in hand (which was a wise thing to carry when we were together). I called his bluff and he didn’t back down…. And neither did I ……and to the airport we went… with little more than our passports and money in our pockets, we went to the Annual BabyO Pajama party and stayed just one night. I think Bruce has the video of that trip!! I hope he burned it…… Now trips and journeys were a large part of what defined Bruce. In fact we both had a passion for it. We even started a magazine called Destinations. Now it didn’t hurt that as Publisher and editor we would have to review properties. I recall very early in our development of the magazine setting up a free or “comped” trip to a little location called Curtain Bluff in Antigua. It was owned by Howard Hulford, a very colorful Yosemete Sam type guy… and I say that not just because of appearances but because of the foot long hotdog sized freshly rolled cigar he would smoke. Howard really out did himself for us… Setting us up in separate villas with beautiful bathrooms overlooking the ocean and perched on a glorious cliff. We were off to a good start with the magazine….so we thought…… It wasn’t until we sat down with Howard on our third day, that things got a little clearer. You see in that conversation in between puffs of that huge cigar, Howard asked us how long we had been with “Departures”…. Now Bruce and I looked at each other and quickly realized that Howard had thought we were with the American Express magazine “Departures” and not our little unknown, soon to be published “Destinations”…. Well not to disappoint we gracefully slid around that question and started to ask our own. Having felt that we had never mislead nor contributed to the misunderstanding we in good conscience stayed two more days. But still the most memorable part of that trip was when we were dining one evening. You see, Curtain Bluff had and may still have, the reputation of the largest and finest wine cellar in the Caribbean. And that’s important to the story because as we were dining Howard came over asked what we were having for dinner and asked what wine we were pairing with it. Now before Bruce had a chance to speak, I suggested Howard, as a wine connoisseur, select one for us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bruce’s eyes wider and the expression on his face spoke volumes….Now it took me a second to realize what I had done. I had just taken our comped trip and raised the stakes by one of the most expensive bottles ever uncorked in the Caribbean. I can still picture Bruce pulling off the wine label on that bottle, ‘cause if we were gonna pay for it, he was going to have that label…………. ……My bad Bruce So why tell you these stories? Stories about a guy who was careful to keep everyone a little in the dark……..To help you know the Bruce I knew……. Well I’m on strict orders from Rita to keep it light and no longer than six minutes…. And I’m going to do my best to honor her wishes. One other lil note….. I can just tell you this…… Bruce had the kindest heart…. He tucked it away sometimes, but if you knew him, you understood what a sensitive guy he was. He loved travel, and spin of a good tale. He loved looking out for others and meeting people where ever he went. I am so proud and honored that he traveled and spent time with me. I aspire to be half the man he was. One of the last things he said to me was thank you for your friendship and he loved me. ..........……..he was a loved friend So I raise my glass to a classic Bruce toast: There are true pains And there are Champagnes There are true Friends And there are sham friends Heres to true pain for sham friends And Champange for true friends - Eric Moreno
Updated 12.14.2007	Close Window