Comments on: The loss of our brother, Robert Patrick Atkinson http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/ The Iota Chapter of Kappa Sigma is located in Georgetown, Texas at Southwestern University. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:52:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Atkinson http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2427 John Atkinson Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:52:09 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2427 It's been a year now, since Rob died. His mother and I passed the day in Idylwild, in the wintry forests of Mount San Jacinto, in the San Bernardino mountains. It's been a year of loss, sorrow, and pain, but also a year of hope and renewed inspiration. We're amazed at how wonderfully our friends and family have shown up, to offer help, a kind word, an offer of service. We miss Rob so much, but we see how we can move on now. fyi, I learned just today that one of Rob's corneas was used to restore sight to a 21-year-old who was blinded when a disease destroyed his own cornea. I'm encouraged to know that part of Rob is still providing real vision here on Earth. Much love and good wishes to Rob's Kappa Sigma brothers and friends, and all of Rob's Southwestern family. Make sure to attend the Student Peace Alliance conference on the SU campus in February, 2010. The work of SPA was one of Rob's great passions. Let it inspire you, too, to build a more peaceful family, community, and world. John Atkinson, Robert Atkinson's father It’s been a year now, since Rob died. His mother and I passed the day in Idylwild, in the wintry forests of Mount San Jacinto, in the San Bernardino mountains. It’s been a year of loss, sorrow, and pain, but also a year of hope and renewed inspiration. We’re amazed at how wonderfully our friends and family have shown up, to offer help, a kind word, an offer of service.

We miss Rob so much, but we see how we can move on now. fyi, I learned just today that one of Rob’s corneas was used to restore sight to a 21-year-old who was blinded when a disease destroyed his own cornea. I’m encouraged to know that part of Rob is still providing real vision here on Earth.

Much love and good wishes to Rob’s Kappa Sigma brothers and friends, and all of Rob’s Southwestern family. Make sure to attend the Student Peace Alliance conference on the SU campus in February, 2010. The work of SPA was one of Rob’s great passions. Let it inspire you, too, to build a more peaceful family, community, and world.

John Atkinson,
Robert Atkinson’s father

]]> By: JOEL SELIK http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2426 JOEL SELIK Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:34:24 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2426 On this approaching the one year anniversary, your light burns brighter and brighter On this approaching the one year anniversary, your light burns brighter and brighter

]]> By: Don Wahl http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2421 Don Wahl Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:37:43 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2421 It was no accident that I learned of Rob's effort to kindle the compassion that we truly need in order to have a safer and more loving world. Not only was he the firekeeper for the Lakota Sundance prayer ceremony in South Dakota, but he has and always will be the keeper of the fire in all of us who are working hard to bring peace into our communities and one day through a cabinet-level Department of Peace in America. Don Wahl Director, Youth Violence Prevention and SEL Project St. Louis, MO It was no accident that I learned of Rob’s effort to kindle the compassion that we truly need in order to have a safer and more loving world. Not only was he the firekeeper for the Lakota Sundance prayer ceremony in South Dakota, but he has and always will be the keeper of the fire in all of us who are working hard to bring peace into our communities and one day through a cabinet-level Department of Peace in America.

Don Wahl
Director, Youth Violence Prevention and SEL Project
St. Louis, MO

]]> By: Thomas Caswell http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2419 Thomas Caswell Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:50:06 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2419 This is long overdue, it was hard for me to accept that our brother no longer walks with us anymore. Perhaps he is above us all looking down, or perhaps his soul still is here on earth touching the hearts of those in need. He was always, always looking out for everyone around him. I ran with him in high school at Junipero Serra where I liked to pretend I lead him. The truth be told he always lead me. I, the team captain, looked to him for his confidence and unconventional ways of making our sometimes grueling workouts bearable. He always had a smile even through injury and hard aches. He always spoke kindly even to those whom no one liked. He was always wishful in his endeavors and no one could ever break him down. Its a sad loss, but to see the love that came from his life makes us realize how much his presence... even the short time he was here... was a gift to all of us. God Blessed all of you who were touched by him, may his touch on your heart maintain its vigor as though he were still here touching your heart every moment. To his mother, you are so kind and always were there for him... thank you so much for raising such a great son. To his father, you clearly were a man in which he looked to for answers, and apparently you gave him a good head to rest on his shoulders. To all his friends, you may have been blessed by him but he was also blessed to be with you. Remember that his best times were shaped by those around him, that his rough times passed with those around him, and that his memory rests in all those who were around him. May he rest in peace, and may his resting never let us forget. -Thomas Caswell US Navy This is long overdue, it was hard for me to accept that our brother no longer walks with us anymore. Perhaps he is above us all looking down, or perhaps his soul still is here on earth touching the hearts of those in need. He was always, always looking out for everyone around him. I ran with him in high school at Junipero Serra where I liked to pretend I lead him. The truth be told he always lead me. I, the team captain, looked to him for his confidence and unconventional ways of making our sometimes grueling workouts bearable. He always had a smile even through injury and hard aches. He always spoke kindly even to those whom no one liked. He was always wishful in his endeavors and no one could ever break him down. Its a sad loss, but to see the love that came from his life makes us realize how much his presence… even the short time he was here… was a gift to all of us. God Blessed all of you who were touched by him, may his touch on your heart maintain its vigor as though he were still here touching your heart every moment. To his mother, you are so kind and always were there for him… thank you so much for raising such a great son. To his father, you clearly were a man in which he looked to for answers, and apparently you gave him a good head to rest on his shoulders. To all his friends, you may have been blessed by him but he was also blessed to be with you. Remember that his best times were shaped by those around him, that his rough times passed with those around him, and that his memory rests in all those who were around him. May he rest in peace, and may his resting never let us forget.

-Thomas Caswell
US Navy

]]> By: Heather V http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2416 Heather V Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:26:57 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2416 I am truly sad for all of you. I did not know Rob, but have heard about him through friends of his parents. It seems unfair to lose such a brilliant soul. My thoughts and prayers are with all that are grieving him. I am truly sad for all of you. I did not know Rob, but have heard about him through friends of his parents. It seems unfair to lose such a brilliant soul. My thoughts and prayers are with all that are grieving him.

]]> By: Jan Atkinson http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2415 Jan Atkinson Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:11:45 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2415 I am Rob's mom. Although I very deeply grieve Rob's loss to us (all of us), I am truly grateful to those, like all of you, who loved our precious son and were inspired by him. The more we all take what Rob has given us into our hearts, the better this world will be. Please honor him by being the best you can be, and loving the most you can love. Namaste. I am Rob’s mom. Although I very deeply grieve Rob’s loss to us (all of us), I am truly grateful to those, like all of you, who loved our precious son and were inspired by him. The more we all take what Rob has given us into our hearts, the better this world will be. Please honor him by being the best you can be, and loving the most you can love. Namaste.

]]> By: Bill Arena http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2413 Bill Arena Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:05:47 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2413 My wife and I were privileged to work and share quality time with Rob each summer for the past three years at the Lakota Sundance prayer ceremony on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Rob was a very special person, highly enlightened, a friend to all he met. I will always remember and appreciate our one-on-one talks about spirituality and nature and the meaning of life and making a positive difference in the world. He was very well advanced on his spiritual path for such a young guy. His work as a firekeeper at Sundance and his friendly spirit with all those he met and his work on behalf of the students for peace will be a lasting memory to his name. He was here on this earth for such a short time but he made a positive difference in the lives of many, many people. He truly lived as a loving brother to everyone he met. He will be missed. We take solace knowing that his spirit lives on. Mitauye' Oyasin ("We are all related") Bill & Linda (Golden Star Woman) Arena Emeryville, CA My wife and I were privileged to work and share quality time with Rob each summer for the past three years at the Lakota Sundance prayer ceremony on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Rob was a very special person, highly enlightened, a friend to all he met. I will always remember and appreciate our one-on-one talks about spirituality and nature and the meaning of life and making a positive difference in the world. He was very well advanced on his spiritual path for such a young guy. His work as a firekeeper at Sundance and his friendly spirit with all those he met and his work on behalf of the students for peace will be a lasting memory to his name. He was here on this earth for such a short time but he made a positive difference in the lives of many, many people. He truly lived as a loving brother to everyone he met. He will be missed. We take solace knowing that his spirit lives on. Mitauye’ Oyasin (“We are all related”)

Bill & Linda (Golden Star Woman) Arena
Emeryville, CA

]]> By: Alix http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2412 Alix Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:27:04 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2412 I very much wish I had met this young man. When I was on a ride for Peace, his parents hosted me. They had so much love for Rob, not just in the way parents do, but in the way friends do as well. I could tell that collectively, they made one another better people. It was an inspiration to meet them and to know Rob was working for peace and justice. Blessings to all, my thoughts are with you in this time of grieving. I very much wish I had met this young man. When I was on a ride for Peace, his parents hosted me. They had so much love for Rob, not just in the way parents do, but in the way friends do as well. I could tell that collectively, they made one another better people. It was an inspiration to meet them and to know Rob was working for peace and justice.
Blessings to all, my thoughts are with you in this time of grieving.

]]> By: Theresa McGallicher http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2411 Theresa McGallicher Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:46:09 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2411 I only "met" Rob last month by telephone & email, as part of our work on a research team for the Dept of Peace Campaign. Even so, I was devastated when I received the news of his untimely passing. I pray that Rob's spirit will live on in the lives of those he touched. Theresa McGallicher Niamey, Niger I only “met” Rob last month by telephone & email, as part of our work on a research team for the Dept of Peace Campaign. Even so, I was devastated when I received the news of his untimely passing. I pray that Rob’s spirit will live on in the lives of those he touched.

Theresa McGallicher
Niamey, Niger

]]> By: Jonathan Goodman http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/comment-page-1/#comment-2410 Jonathan Goodman Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:01:12 +0000 http://iotachapter.org/2008/12/05/the-loss-of-our-brother-robert-patrick-atkinson/#comment-2410 My apologies as these comments were held in moderation for three days. I've adjusted our settings so future comments will post immediately. On behalf of the fraternity, we are thankful for sharing your love for Rob here. -Jonathan My apologies as these comments were held in moderation for three days. I’ve adjusted our settings so future comments will post immediately. On behalf of the fraternity, we are thankful for sharing your love for Rob here.

-Jonathan

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