Doug and I met in 1969. It was a time of enormous political and cultural change and memorable events including the Moon Landing, the Miracle Mets, the Super Bowl Jets, and Woodstock.

We enjoyed good times with our co-workers Marvin, Mike, Russ, and Ron at Salant Corporation, an apparel company. We even had the opportunity after 38 years, to reconnect with Russ and Ron in 2007.

From the start of our friendship, Doug and I had some things in common; we each drove a 1960s Chevy, enjoyed similar music, and for the most part, were politically in synch.

More than anything, we enjoyed each other's company. We had many memorable experiences. Friday nights at Finn's Silver Edge in West Orange; watching the filming of the Godfather on 5th Avenue in1971; searching for Yogi's house on the icy hills of Montclair was a comedy; and of course our 12 hour trip to the 1972 Pocono Music Festival was one of the most interesting and unique adventures of our youth! After abandoning Doug's '72 Fiat 124 Sport a mile from the concert grounds, and then getting drenched in the rain and covered with mud, we were still able to experience a music festival that was attended by 250,000 fans, and had performers that included Rod Stewart, Ten Years After, and the J. Geils Band.

Sometime in the early 1970s Doug and I lost touch, but we both knew where one another was working. Doug went into the publishing business, and I stayed in the apparel industry. In the late 1980s we reconnected, and we picked up our friendship that has endured from that point on.

Over the years, we were fortunate to go on a number of trips to Vegas, which included hiking, boating on Lake Mead, and expeditions to ghost towns. We were always up for a road trip, and the journey was as much fun as the destination. We had many long discussions about life, family, work, friends, and things that we thought were important. Our regular dinners over the past 20 years were always something to look forward to and enjoy.

Without realizing, I always seemed to refer to Doug as "my friend Doug" whenever I mentioned him to my sons or family. My sons Michael and Danny would kid me about that and remind me that they knew Doug very well and it was not necessary for me to use that phrase to identify him. However, it was then that I realized that I was not using that phrase for purposes of identification, but rather, as an acknowledgement of a unique and special friendship, one of endearment, respect, admiration, kindness, and loyalty.

It is therefore enough for me to simply say that I am a fortunate and lucky man, and more importantly, a better person, for having had the great privilege and honor to know "my friend Doug...."

I will cherish our friendship forever.

Vic