Today my grandfather Richard Snibbe died in San Francisco. Ahna answered our phone at 8:15 this morning and quickly came to get me. The nursing home said that grandpa had died of cardiac arrest suddenly while eating his breakfast. We drove quickly over to the Mission Bay Convalescent Hospital and we sat peacefully with him for two hours while we filled the room with love for him and said some prayers.
The day before, on Saturday, we had planned to take him out for a lobster dinner to celebrate his ninety-first birthday which was coming up on October 31. When we arrived at four, he was all dressed up and excited, filled with loving words, exclaiming “I love you!” to both Ahna and I and squeezing our hands. But when we tried to take him to the car, he insisted “I’m not getting in that elevator” and nothing we said could convince him, even when I told him we were getting lobster. We eventually went back to his room and he lay down, holding my hand and quickly falling asleep.
He lived a beautiful life here in San Francisco for the last three years. I’ve been able to see him at least once a week and we’ve been out to twenty or so lobster dinners together! Every time I saw him he was filled with love and enthusiasm and made my life wonderful. The staff at the nursing home adored him and treated him with alternating tenderness and teasing.
I’ve just set up this blog and will be posting more information about Grandpa’s life and his planned memorial services. Feel free to post comments and share your thoughts and memories about Richard.
With Love,
Scott Snibbe
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