Bascom's Chop House and Bob Bascom

If you read my Blog/Facebook entry yesterday you will have noted that my cousin Janet, her partner Steve and I had lunch on Tuesday at a Pinellas Park (FL) restaurant named “Bascom’s Chop House”.

I mentioned to Steve and Janet that I had parishioners in Pittsfield, MA named Bob and Mary Ann Bascom.

The name of the restaurant caused me to think about Bob and Mary Ann, for the first time in so many years.

I took a photo’ of the restaurant sign, with the intention of sending a copy to them.

That was at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Later on Tuesday Bob attended a meeting at St. Stephen’s, Pittsfield, and then went home to watch a bit of T.V.

He went to bed and (sometime during the night) he died of a heart attack.

I find this “coincidence” to be a wee bit “spooky”.

Bob Bascom was a fabulous St. Stephen’s parishioner.  He was conservative (with a lower case “c”), and all the better for it.

He was a terrific trainer of acolytes for 50+ years.  Thanks to him the St. Stephen’s acolytes were/are some of the best trained and utterly secure that I have ever met.

Bob became my Senior Warden.

As such he chaired Vestry meetings, and he did it so well.  In truth he did it very well.

Under his leadership the Vestry meetings were beautifully run:

1. We stayed on time
.
2. We were always focused.

3. Every Vestry member was encouraged to speak.

4. Every Vestry member was listened to with the greatest of respect.

God bless Bob in eternity.

God sustain Mary Ann in her grief.