Linda Schrufer died Sunday night.

Sad. Very sad. I feel terrible.

She was a dear friend. A true friend.

I first met Linda and her husband Bill about 10 years ago. About the time I bought my home here in Key West. Linda and Bill were from Reading, Pa. They wintered here. They were for real snowbirds.

Home in Key West was a lovely condominium in Truman annex. Linda furnished it tastefully. It was a bright colorful place. Vibrant! Just as Linda was!

Linda enjoyed entertaining. She was the hostess with the mostest! The Pearle Mesta of Key West! The food and drink were always good. Her mixture of guests superb.

Linda was loyal. Or maybe she just liked collecting stray cats. When I first met her and Bill, I was living with my wife. Since that time, we have separated. This was no problem for Linda. She continued to invite me to her home and out to dinner. Something most others failed to do. My being a single instead of a double did not affect her relationship with me in any way. In fact, as I think about it, Linda was sort of a collector of sad souls. Many times there was a widow or widower in her company.

Good of heart might also be used to describe Linda! I remember when my daughter Lisa was about to marry. Linda threw her a lovely shower. Though genrations apart, it made Linda and Lisa’s relationship forever special.

Linda’s charity here in Key West was the Red Barn theatre. She was a fund raiser supreme! How could any one say no to her charming smile! A generous heart in her own right to whom generosity returned.

Linda, we are all a bit less now that you are gone. You are already missed by all who knew you. You touched each of us.

Last night I searched the heavens looking for that bright new star. I know you are there somewhere!

One final thought. When you are scurrying around in Heaven, you will probably be inviting the Lord over to dinner. He’s a single!

Pax.

6 comments on “

  1. Thank you for writting such a wonderful piece about Linda. I will go out on a limb and speak for all of us here in Pennsylvania who are mystified as to how we will get along without her. She was truly a shining star in life and will remain so in her passing. All who know Bill, the Schrufer family and knew Linda no doubt send every ounce of love and caring. Losing her is devistating as she touched the hearts and souls of all of us so deeply. I will personally miss her illuminating smile, infectious laugh, her ability to give the greatest hugs of all time, to take the reins in every entertaining situation, her generosity, and her fun loving spirit just to name a few. There will forever be a large hole in my heart knowing I will not have the honor of being around her again.

  2. Thank you for writting such a wonderful piece about Linda. I will go out on a limb and speak for all of us here in Pennsylvania who are mystified as to how we will get along without her. She was truly a shining star in life and will remain so in her passing. All who know Bill, the Schrufer family and knew Linda no doubt send every ounce of love and caring. Losing her is devistating as she touched the hearts and souls of all of us so deeply. I will personally miss her illuminating smile, infectious laugh, her ability to give the greatest hugs of all time, to take the reins in every entertaining situation, her generosity, and her fun loving spirit just to name a few. There will forever be a large hole in my heart knowing I will not have the honor of being around her again.

  3. I did not know Linda well, but well enough to embrace your comments and make them my own. Linda was indeed special to all who knew her. Her smile was radiant, her love for others so real, her heart as big as the sky.
    I thank you for saying what we all wanted to say, but you did it so eloquently. I will miss her, too.

  4. I did not know Linda well, but well enough to embrace your comments and make them my own. Linda was indeed special to all who knew her. Her smile was radiant, her love for others so real, her heart as big as the sky.
    I thank you for saying what we all wanted to say, but you did it so eloquently. I will miss her, too.

  5. Tears come again as I think of Linda. Thank you Louis and others for expressing how she lived her life. I know she went towards the light.

  6. Tears come again as I think of Linda. Thank you Louis and others for expressing how she lived her life. I know she went towards the light.

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