When I came home from work a few days ago and found Joe Bender-Zanoni's message that Chris Beyer was gone, I had to go outside and just think and sort things out for a while. There was a strong sense of loss, of not ever having the chance to more fully develop a friendship.
And, a sense that our relationship was perhaps of a new kind, invented by the 'net, hard even to describe to my wife. In the list, we're colleagues, drawn together by common interests in a single area, and by mutual respect reinforced by Dale's standards. Through email and short chats at Cirque, I knew that Chris was a person of value, and values, and there was a friendship to encourage. But mostly, these relationships evolve along that single thread. I didn't know if Chris - or any of you - are married, single, or serial killers. Your politics. Few except Wayne and Martin Gold knew of Chris's love of music and his work as a DJ on the side. So, there's a bond that's much stronger than an acquaintance, but not yet a firm friendship.
So, I feel loss, but know how much less my loss is than his wife's and those who have known him over decades, and want to respect that difference.
Chris, I'll miss your insights, wisdom, and class. We'll soldier on without you, as they'll soldier on when we're gone, too.
harvey sachs
mcLean va