October 2012
Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, there have been changes to
the Fuller household over the last two years -- the
greatest and hardest change being Bob’s aneurysm
November 2011 followed by his death in April of
this year.
[2011 birthday in COS!]
Bob collapsed on the floor on Thanksgiving morning
and went to the hospital with what was finally
discerned as a severe aneurysm in the brain at the
back of the neck. He underwent neurosurgery to put
clips on the aneurysm, and they installed a shunt and
did a tracheotomy. It was unclear if he would be able
to recover his ability to talk and swallow. On December 20th he was transferred to Madonna Rehabilitation
Hospital here in Lincoln, and we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on the 29th. [But not the way we had
planned.] Bob was cognitive of his surroundings, knew me and the kids and his friends and colleagues. He was
able to give “thumbs up, thumbs down”, shake hands, wave, and finally to make two vowel sounds. He worked
so very, very hard with his therapists and made improvements for a period of time, but the continual infections
in his lungs and his feeding tube took their tolls. He went into hospice care on April 3rd and died on Easter
Monday, April 9th.
We celebrated Bob’s life on May 26th [Pentecost] and were blessed with many family and friends traveling long
distances to bid him farewell and greet us. We miss his joy of life, his enthusiasm for friends, food, and
conversation, and his love. But we’re thankful for the many years of good health and humor that we were able
to enjoy with him.
In the last year, the kids and I have grown to be thankful for the many things that happened in 2011 before his
aneurysm. Bob and I sold the Colorado Springs house and, after spending a glorious last summer there, cleared
it out and headed back to Lincoln. We attended a Las Vegas reunion of MEHS, the Burmese high school where
Bob taught for three years before we were married, and also enjoyed trips to Chicago, Portland, and D.C. to see
family and friends. Bob did a faculty development workshop at the University of D.C. the week prior to
Thanksgiving. I know that Bob counted his many friends among one of the blessings in his life. Two weeks
before Thanksgiving, he completed an interview for the UN-L Emeriti Association which is now on their
website. It’s a lovely chance to hear Bob tell some stories about his life and teaching career.
http://real.unl.edu/programs/emeriti_lib/Fuller_Robert_G.php
This year has been a hard one as Bob lived large and I miss him daily, but I am lucky to have the support and
love of my family and friends to help me endure. I visited Chicago to see Laurie and Erica and meet up with
friend Marj Fuller who lost her spouse ten days after Bob died. My first solo road trip in many years was back
to Colorado to see friends. Then I flew to Portland to see my kids and grandkids. Currently, plans are for a trip
to Myanmar (Burma) for another MEHS reunion in January 2013 after Christmas in Portland. I’m looking
forward to seeing the country that was so dear to Bob.
Thank you all for your love and support these past years. May you find peace and joy in 2013!
Margaret Fuller 3901 S. 27th Street, Unit 33 Lincoln, NE 68502
mafuller@neb.rr.com home: 402-423-8311 cell: 402-430-8311
Letter courtesy of Bryanne Patail – November 7, 2012.