Jobu

A few days ago I stopped by Brian’s grave.  I saw a Heineken “tall boy” beer can on his grave and laughed out loud.  

 

I immediately thought: “Cool, I like Heineken.”  Then, I immediately thought of “Major League.”  This was one of Brian’s favorite movies and we constantly talked about “Jobu.”

 

One of the best lines in the movie stated “It is very bad to drink Jobu’s rum. Very bad.”

 

I thought of Brian and Jobu.  I did not take the beer.  In fact, I thought Brian would want it poured out on his grave “for his hommies.”  I did as Brian wished and left the can.

 

Thanks to the person (probably a Gunnoe) who honored Brian, Jobu and made me laugh out loud. 

Introducing Abigail Grace Gunnoe!

Congratulations to Justin and Jenny Gunnoe on the 5/3/14 birth of their daughter.

 

Abigail Grace Gunnoe was seven pounds, three ounces and 19.5 inches.  LOTS of brown hair as you can see.

 

Justin and Jenny will make great parents.  Everyone is glad she looks like Jenny!

 

For one day, all is right with the world.

“But, I am his only brother.”

My dad sent me an email about a month ago.  He told me he found Brian’s original Best Man’s toast for our wedding.  It was in Brian’s horrible “chicken scratch” handwriting.  There were numerous cross outs, questionable grammar, arrows and - of course - it was nothing like the speech he actually gave! 

 

The last sentence of my dad’s email was “I am certain it will be of value to you.”  It is.  At that time, I was thinking about Brian and thought how I would really like to get a sign from him.  I guess I did! 

 

Brian’s remarks are a wonderful gift.  I can hear him saying these words in his inflection.  I can hear his laugh, his voice and see his smile while giving this speech in front of the crowd.  I can picture Brian being Brian. 

 

Man, do I miss him.

 

It was six years ago today when we lost him.  I hate this date.  Most of all, I can’t stand the missed opportunities, conversations and events that should have occurred but never will.  The pain is not as sharp – but it is still there.  Like my bum ankle that I always have to deal with, it never leaves me. 

 

I know we never get a choice about death and a loved one.  You can’t bargain with God and say “make it quick” or ask for “more time.”  It happens and worst of all – you have no control.  But, you still have the love.  I think that amount of pain someone has is directly proportional to the amount of love someone felt.  Brian’s death caused so much pain (and still does) because I, and many others, loved him fiercely and miss him terribly.  Given a chance to bargain with God – and knowing the pain I would have to bear – I would easily say: “God, give me Brian for only 33 years.” 

 

However, I know that Brian (as stated below) wishes us all the best.  He would not want us to become “professional mourners” and be thankful for all of our blessings.  I try my best.  I also am grateful Brian was my only brother. 

 

Enjoy the written speech below.  Then, be amazed at the video, which shows the “finished product.”  Only Brian could prepare, forget the speech, wing it and still land on his feet! 

Love you Brian.

Matthew D. McCormick

Everyone here in this room has a knowledge of Matt.  He is a son to Dick and Diane.   A nephew to Joyce, Mark and Bill.  An employee of Chauncey. The husband of Sooz.  The teammates of XURFC, patron of The Woods, an alumni of XU and friend to all. 

 

But, I am his only brother. 

 

Everyone of these people have stories and knowledge of Matt and how he has told them.  If you can, get a hold of him for a minute and ask about the time we decided to play baseball with a basketball or when he decided to get his ear pierced in Costa Rica or simply ask him about the story in the elevator in King Cole – Then you will see a couple of things – a great sense of humor and that us Irish folk are sometimes not that smart. 

 

My brother has been more of an influence to me than any other person excluding Ma and Pops.  Part of me feels that he is greatly responsible for my choice to go to XU – to play Rugby – to be in business and to get the first punch!

 

He has shown me a great many things.  But, the most important thing is how it looks for someone to be in love.

 

I met Sooz a long time ago and I liked her immediately.  I knew she would be a McCormick after I offended her and she came back to the house again (ask her about Lenny).  Well, I resisted Sooz for a couple of months because I saw just how captured he was with her.  I did not realize the reason he didn’t want to play video games with me is because of something called love.  I didn’t understand.  But, a couple of years ago I realized that soon I was telling stories about Sooz – and without my knowledge I started to accept her and love her like a family member should. 

 

I see them as one now – as you do – one perfect couple that withstood a lot of things to make it to this day.  I never thought of them not getting married.  I know, don’t even think what would happen if they didn’t get to this point because to me it was as always destined to be there and be like this. 

 

What I am truly trying to say – and its hard – because us Mick boys here hate being schmaltzy is I love you all – and I wish the best in the world to my best friend and big brother and to his beautiful wife – God Bless you all!

 

Slainte!  

 

 

Inaugural golf outing for Brian (Pablo) McCormick

Poor Shaker Run.  Do they have any idea what they are in for? 

 

Some of Brian’s best friend have decided to hold a golf outing for him and his memorial fund.  Thanks to the generosity of many of you, his fund has help kept 72 students in financial distress enrolled at Xavier. 

 

I found it quite amusing that we will have a golf tournament in honor of Brian – who was ranked by Golf Digest as the “certified worst golfer in the world” for three years in a row. 

 

Special thanks to Mark Beresniewicz, Adam Boehm, Ted Dohrmann and Mark Libs for organizing. It should be a blast and hopefully many of you will help make it a special day.

 

Thanks, God Bless and Let’s get ready to rumble on 6/28!

 

 

PS. Pablo says: “UD still sucks!”

 

 

**********************************************************************************

 

When: 6/28/14

 

Where: Shaker Run in Lebanon, Ohio

 

Time:  Lunch at noon. Scramble start at 1:30. 

Cost: $125 per player (includes golf, lunch and $70 donation to Brian McCormick Memorial Fund at Xavier)

 

Please mail payment to:

 

Ted Dohrmann

7181 Tiki Drive

Cincinnati, OH 45223

 

Note:  In order to receive the tax deduction, you must mail two checks.  One for $55 to Shaker Run Golf Club.  The other (for $70) to Xavier University.

 

Please email me at mmccormick@bahl-gaynor.com with any questions. 

Things that make you say "hmmm."

1.      We recently moved and now live about two miles away. Naturally, a move brings up a lot of emotions due to all the actives associated with a sale/purchase of a new home. Our kids have really only knew one house and we had some great memories at our old home.  Caroline asked “will Uncle Brian know where we are?”  We told her “of course.”  Well, we hired a cleaning crew to come in the day after we moved.  Susan was doing a last minute inspection after they left.  She was down in the basement and found a ten dollar Hong Kong coin sitting out in the open.  This coin was missed by us and the cleaning crew after repeated attempts to clean the basement.  Yet, it was there.  Why is this interesting?  Many of you will remember Brian used to go to Hong Kong several times a year for his job in the toy industry.  The coin was also dated “1995” – which is the year Susan and I got married.  Some will say this is just a coincidence.  We believe it was a connection from Brian and him letting us know he is still with us.   

2.      I was driving back from Cincinnati Airport and was listening to the last seconds of the UD/St. Joseph’s game on WHIO. I said a little prayer to my brother: "C'mon Brian, please help UD lose." I thought: "Man, this is not really Christian, praying for them to lose." Then, I said "I don't care, I want them to lose badly and so would my brother." I then listened to the homer announcers on WHIO describe the push-off, Galloway hitting the three, the no call and then three minutes of non-stop CRYING/blaming the refs about "what a terrible way to lose." I don't care if it was true - and the refs screwed them – IT WAS FREAKIN' GLORIOUS! – and I am glad Brian helped.

3.      Patrick had his basketball banquet Sunday at the Wetherington Country Club.  Kid ate three omelets and then demolished a monster porterhouse steak later that day.  Amazing.  Well, the club had a signup sheet for the NCAA tourney and was selling squares.  One of contestants was named “Brian McCormac.”  Pretty close!

4.      Not really a connection – but it was a great Brian story.  Once when we were in New York City (Brian was still at Xavier) and it snowed.  Brian did not have a hat.  He bought a simple black knit cap with “Harlem” tastefully embroidered on it.  He told me a few days later he went to United Dairy Farmers (UDF) to buy something and was wearing the hat.  The clerk said to him:  “Harlem?  You ain’t from Harlem!”  Brian said (in a hurt/aggrieved manner) “How do you know!” 

Miss you Brian!  Help X tonight. Love, your brother.

 

Wow!

Received a report from Xavier today about Brian's fund. It seems 72 students have received funds - totaling $56,195 - since its 2008 inception. This is impressive! Can you imagine how many lives have been changed due to everyone's kindness and generosity? Thank you and WOW!

Two more students stay at Xavier thanks to Brian's fund

Dear Matt:

My name is ____ _____ and I am a recipient of an award from the Brian McCormick Memorial Fund.  I want to first start off by thanking you with the deepest gratitude.  That award has made the completion of my senior year here at Xavier a lot easier.  I hope the fund continues because I know there will be other students like me who will benefit.  Your donation is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Name withheld.

To the Brian McCormick Memorial Fund:

I just wanted to drop a thank you not to you to thank you for having this fund here at Xavier.  This fund helped me to stay at Xavier.  I am in my junior year.  Please continue to keep this fund here to help students like me.  I hope I can do something like this too one day. 

Thanks,

Name withheld

Brian and his hugs

My dad and I were talking to my kids about Brian and Hong Kong.  We discussed how my dad arranged for me to travel over and surprise my mom and Brian (Brian was working in HK and my parents went over to visit him.)  My dad talked almost reverently about Brian’s reaction to seeing me when he opened the door.  “Brian did not say a word.  He just gave you a big hug.” 

 Often, my kids will stall when I am trying to put them to bed.  Patrick said just a few nights ago: “Dad, uncle Brian gave the best hugs.”  I said:  “He sure did. Now, go to bed.”

Afterwards, I was thinking about Brian and how he did give great hugs.  The one I remember the most was the one I received on my 38^th birthday – the last day I ever saw Brian. 

We had a bunch of people over to our house to watch Xavier get crushed by UCLA in the Elite 8 NCAA game.  Brian, for some reason wore a yellow sweater – the same sweater he wore to “honor” Bob Huggins in the Sweet 16 win over WVU.  (Brian probably wore it because it had good “mojo” and wanted it to help XU in the next game.)

Brian gave me my birthday present.  I told him I did not need anything.  He was almost taken aback and then he insisted I accept the money he was putting in my hands.  Then, without a word, he gave me a big hug and told me that I was his brother and he always loved me.

Thinking back about that day almost six years ago made me realize two things.  One, this was probably the best last encounter anyone could have with a departed loved one.  We did not know Brian was about to leave us.  But, we both knew we loved each other and had no issues between us.  Two, this was the best birthday present I will ever receive.  How can it be topped?

Love you Brian.  Help our family out.  We need some extra special assistance for all our loved ones. 

C'mon Brian, help Judy!

Our hearts, prayers and love are with the entire Gunnoe family.  We love all of you and are with you every step of the way.  Your assistance would be appreciated Brian!

What a great weekend!

Congratulations to Drew and Stacey Gunnoe on the birth of their daughter Katherine Vida Gunnoe.   Mom and baby are doing great.  Dad is already searching for a baby kayak for his girl.  What a beautiful baby!

 

Xavier absolutely crushed UC.

 

Patrick made two free throws in overtime - with 13 seconds left - to ice the victory for St. Gabriel’s.  His team remains undefeated and plays in Cincinnati CYO’s toughest seventh grade division.

 

All is right with the world.  Brian would be ecstatic with all the good news and looking to celebrate.

 

We are truly blessed.