I met him as Art in 2001 about two weeks post 9/11. He was coming into town for the wedding of one of the Gressang Brothers "super Dave". I knew he was a kindred soul with a desire to see the world. Wyatt and I played host to Art and his date that weekend and in return Art sent me a copy of a Nabokov memoir.
It would be a year later when the Gressang brothers would again be in town this time for business trips and we all ended up at a Russian restaurant doing vodka shots and then at Camelot. It was me and the Gressang Brothers and Brian. Ultimately a fun evening and Art in the middle convincing us to live life to the fullest.
The next time I would see Art would be in 2004 at my Wedding. He made sure to be there and the Gressang Brothers were united once more. I understand this brotherhood that Wyatt is part of in a way that no fraternity can replace. These men were boys together and learned to be men together even as they moved all over the country they stayed in touch.
In February of 2011, Art and his wife Natasha were in San Diego on business. The McCanless clan and the Poist clan headed down to spend the weekend with them. We wondered around Balboa Park. Art was a bit slower than the boys (Charlie, William and Wylie with their boundless energy) but he managed to keep them entertained and keep in good spirits. We had the joy of spending an afternoon with Art walking through the gaslamp and then having dinner. Wylie had fun and when we left he gave Art a hug that almost knocked him down.
In May 2011 we passed through Houston on our way to VA. Wylie quickly remembered Mr. Art and again nearly knocked him over with a hug. Wylie has kharma that way with people.
It is August 11, 2011
Tonight the Gressang Brothers are together to say good night and good bye to Art.We will all miss him. It was tough to tell Wylie that Mr. Art is gone.
He would have been 40 next year.
Photos from his life and his obituary are here.
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