In Memory

Robert William Shull - Class Of 1967

Robert William Shull

Robert William Shull

November 29, 1948 - September 4, 1981



 
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08/29/11 08:14 PM #1    

Terry Michael (1970)

Bob was my first real crush.  He had already graduated when I was a sophomore, but we met one day and I got to know him over the course of many years.  When I first dated him he was bright, funny, brash, irreverent, and he drove a cool convertible sports car.  I also thought he was gorgeous.  As I got to know him, I found he was very close to his family.  He could be alternately sweet and  romantic or solitary and aloof, and he had a pretty healthy ego (he bragged quite a bit about his successes on the track team).   ....At the time when he traded the car for a motorcycle I was nearly out of the picture.  His focus was on getting high.  He became  a lot more complicated, argumentative, and, as I look back, he started to lose a little something of himself.  So many did in those days when drugs were so easy.  We lost touch after several difficult arguments and I didn't hear from him again until almost 10 years later.  I was living in Indianapolis at that time, and the phone rang.  It was Bob.  I have no idea how he got my phone number after all those years.   He called to tell me he was sorry for how  he had treated me.  He went on to apologize for some of the things he did and said which completely surprised me.  I was, and still am, touched by his thoughtful and heartfelt call.   He had stopped drinking and was getting control of his life.   He offered one more apology before we hung up.  Later I got a card from Bob wishing me well.   After all these years I still think his call was a deeply thoughtful gesture.   I hope he found the grounding he was looking for, and the kind of happiness that the boy I first got to know -- deserved.  Whatever detours Bob took in his life, I am so glad to have this memory of him.   Terry Michael ('70) 


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