REMEMBRANCE – Samuel L. Cole Jr.

Dad Samuel L. Cole Jr. passed away on August 25th, 2009 at the age of 83.

May he rest in peace.

When I was in my teens, I was introduced to a fraternity called DeMolay.  This organization came to mean a great deal to me, mostly in part to those advisors who helped guide me through my youth.  Dad Cole was probably the single biggest influence in my life during my DeMolay career. 

I was asked this last Friday to deliver the eulogy prior to the DeMolay memorial service.  I would like to share some of what I wrote with you now as I believe by doing so, in some small measure, his spirit lives forever.

He was a good man and I will miss him.

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim
That sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when he reached the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting strength in building here.
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head.
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. ”
“He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”

This evening we honor and remember a man who took the time to build many a bridge, allowing those of us in this room to avoid the pitfalls, keeping us on the straight and narrow, guiding us into becoming the men we are today

Brother and Dad Samuel L. Cole Jr.

There could be no finer representation of our Order and the ideals we profess than Dad Cole.

He was a compassionate husband, loving father, supportive father-in-law, doting grandfather and a loyal friend.

Those who knew him are truly better people for it, those who loved him received that love back 10 fold.

His career within DeMolay was not one motivated by selfish ambition.  He served when asked and then did the best possible job he could.  It was through that hard work and true dedication for this Order that he achieved what he did.  And though those achievements, he impacted so many serving as a shining example to hundreds of young men of a manhood based upon the seven cardinal virtues of DeMolay. 

Looking back on my own youth, I thank the lord every day for two men who were there for me unconditionally.  Who’s leadership I emulated, who example I followed and who’s approval meant everything.  My grandfather, Ronal Scites and my Dad, Sam Cole.

It fills my heart with great pride and tremendous joy that he considered me a son. 

We were all his sons!  He was always seeing and striving for the best in every young man. To his family, on behalf of us all, I thank you for the patience and understanding you showed that allowed us all to share in his wisdom and love.

Tonight, I invite and encourage you to fill your hearts and your minds with the stories of a friend, a father, a Dad.  Remember the example he set for us all.  Practice patience. Work hard.  When called upon to serve, do so with dignity and grace.   Be loyal and remain faithful. Have fun, smile, laugh. Love unconditionally.  Do that and his legacy will continue, passed on from father to son, from Dad to DeMolay for generations to come.

At the close of every State Chapter meeting, when he served as Executive Officer, you would hear a booming voice as the state officers broke formation behind the DeMolay altar.

Well Done Michigan.

If you close your eyes, you can still hear him.

For helping to raising such an incredible family, for all your professional and personal accomplishments, for setting an example worthy of emulation for hundreds of young men, Dad, I say to you…

Well Done!

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