Mr. and Mrs. Singletary have been a second set of parents, as well as significant influences throughout almost 30 years of my life. "Mr. and Mrs. S" became surrogate parents of mine when Kevin became a best friend in 7th grade - that's also when they began buying enough food for a 5th member of their family. Our parent's also became best friends through sports and a mutual admiration for each other's children. Through the years, Mr. and Mrs. S have had such a profound impact on me and our group of friends through our conversations, shared experiences and wisdom that they imparted upon us. This was as broad as shaping the prism through which we view the world (with patience and understanding even when it isn't "fair") to as precise as to how one treats their neighbors or their son's and daughter's friends (like family). It is nearly impossible to separate Mr. and Mrs. S, even in this note, as they were the best of partners for 46 years. That said, what an incredible life Mr. S has had: brilliant, thoughtful and charismatic children, a very loving and lifelong marriage, countless amazing life experiences, the ability to defend our country in Vietnam, a phenomenal education (the importance of which he passed on to Kevin and Kim) and the ability to meet his grandchildren. That is an incredible blessing and a life fulfilled. On a lighter note, he deserves some serious kudos for videotaping hundreds of hours of Kevin's football and wrestling and Kimmy's gymnastics and judo with a 50 lb VHS dumbbell on his shoulder! He rarely, if ever, missed a match or a game. I was so happy and blessed to have recently had the opportunity to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. S and for our son to have met his surrogate grandparents. In a classic quote, he said about our son: "Wow that little guy has great hair and those suckers on the wrestling mats are going to get pinned!" Even when he was sick he had time for a joke. He was equally a great man and a role model for how I hope my children view me as a parent. I am eternally indebted to the Singletary family for all that I was able to experience with Mr. S. We are all so lucky to have had him in our lives, he was one of the few GREAT men I've known. Thank you for sharing his influence and I promise to pay that forward. Praying for peace and comfort for each of you... With love, -Brandon O'Daniell