Farewell Robyn
October 29, 2015
Our dear friend Robyn Lazear passed away this past Sunday after a 10 year battle with cancer. Kenny and I met Robyn almost 20 years ago. Meeting and getting to know Robyn is a great example of why I try my best never to have regrets about decisions made. Even "bad" decisions invariably lead to wonderful things. In this case, the "bad" decision was when I quit my job at Allergan in 1989 and decided to become a real estate agent! Economically this was an unmitigated disaster and I was fortunate to get an offer to join the marketing team at Vistakon (the J&J division that sold ACUVUE disposable contact lenses) in Jacksonville, FL at the beginning of 1991. One of the best things that happenned is I met Sherri Lazear. She was super smart, extremely good at her job and had keen observational skills and a wicked sense of humor; plus she didn't take the whole work thing quite as seriously as everyone else. Needless to say, we hit it off!
While at an American Optometric Association meeting in Montreal, she quietly introduced me to Dr. Howard Harrison - a highly successful optometrist, huge ACUVUE customer and the man she was planning on marrying! So how did this lead to meeting Robyn? Well....I grew restless at Vistakon and took a job as VP of Marketing at Summit Technology - in Boston! Kenny and I became very close friends with Howard and Sherri who lived in Boston and still do. Many of you know that the four of us established the "5s and 0s" Birthday Club where the person with a birthday ending in a 5 or a 0 gets to pick where the four of us go for holiday. The four of us have gone on many wonderful trips including Tuscany, Cuba, Croatia and Argentina/Uruguay. But that is not the only Howard and Sherri tradition. For over 20 years, they have hosted an annual 4th of July lobster fest and turkey fry. I can't remember if our first one was 1995 or 1996. We had a fantastic time and one of the main reasons was that Sherri's sister Robyn came up for the event from south Florida! I still remember the first time I met her. The great smile and laugh. The lack of judgment and an insatiable curiosity. The selfless generosity. And most of all, that "life force." She loved being alive and she enjoyed every moment. I always say I prefer being around people who see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Well with Robyn, the glass was completely full and she was offering all her friends and family a sip! I truly loved being around her!
Cancer had no idea what it was getting itself into when it picked on Robyn. If anyone could beat it, it was Robyn; and for a long time, she did just that. But what amazed me the most (although it wasn't really surprising) is how she never let it get in the way of living her life. I have consistently been inspired by Robyn; not because she set an example on how to live with cancer, but because she set a great example on HOW TO LIVE PERIOD. Cancer was not the only obstacle she faced over the past 10 years. The great recession essentially destroyed the business she worked so hard to make a great success.
In spite of all this, when you spent time with Robyn, you always thought she was on top of the world and everything was perfect. As my legal issues mounted, Robyn kept telling me that she didn't judge me and that everything would be ok. I'll always remember the last time I had the privilege of spending time with Robyn and her fabulous husband Danny. Howard, Sherri, Danny and Robyn were planning a trip to Californiaand it happened to coincide with my and Kenny's 30th anniversary as well my 55th birthday. Given everything going on with my situation, our "5s and 0s" club was on hiaitus so I was really excited that they were coming out. We met up with them for dinner at an ocean front restaurant in Shell Beach with my mom and Les joining us as well as my brother Paul and Nicole. I still remember the huge, tight hug Robyn gave me and that smile that lit up a room. We spent the next day roaming around Pismo Beach. It was a gorgeous day - so relaxing and so much fun. It was so great to chat and laugh with Robyn and Danny and H&S. I just remember her being so in the moment and so ALIVE that day. And that is how I will always remember her. And that is why I have no regrets about leaving Allergan because I wouldn't trade any of that for anything. I love you Robyn and Danny, Sherri and Howard, as you sit shiva this week, know that we are there with you and sending the greatest amount of love possible.
