Bill
6 ft 5 in - give or take an inch. 350 pounds. Give or take a pound. In a word - a mountain of a man. Baldheaded and always wearing sun-glasses. A round face atop a massive neck that seems somehow just proportinate enough. Always clad in denim overalls and white t-shirts that encompassed a respectable girth. Not very fast, but certainly unstoppable. Bill, the former Hells-Angel, former bodyguard of rich and famous Hollywood glitterati, said the most important acts in his life are acts of selfless kindness. Watching over little silver haired ladies who did not hire him as a body guard - to be sure they probably couldn't afford such a luxury - and walking little pre-schoolers across the street. Bill, a former Heroin addict, who loves to write long carefully formed and beautifully worded letters to his friends and paid attention to what children had to say. Have you ever noticed how many people acknowledge children? Give them attention and talk to them? Adults usually have better things to do than try to carrry on a conversation with a 5 year old, or even a 7 year old. Bill paid attention to children. He patiently spoke with them. In December of 2001 Bill succumbed to diabetes, and perhaps a reaction to a new regiment of insulin based medication he was taking. His was the first memorial service I ever attended in my life. It is amazing what a hole a person can leave. And all Bill did was to stand at a door on Gower Street and Carlos Street in Hollywood, greeting people and watching over them as they made their way across the street to a parking lot.
This story reminds me of Eric Clapton's memorial of his 10 year old son who died accidentally by falling out of the window of their NYC apartment. In his song "Tears in Heaven " Clapton writes " will you know my name if I see you in heaven.... will it be the same if I see you in heaven... "
Speaking of really big guys who die relatively young... I met this fellow on my second trip to Los Angeles. Ten years later Lyle was dead of brain cancer at about 43 years old. He attributed the illness to his constant use of anabolic steroids. When I first met him, he was just finishing an exercise video. We took his Jag down to Manhattan Beach to pick up his wife and kids. Nice family. Howie Long showed up as well. I didn't know much about football and thought Howie was just some loudmouthed big guy..... I was naive! By the time Lyle passed away he had lost his family to the rage that comes hand in hand with steroids. He had just made a come-back to the NFL when all things went to pieces.
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