Aloha fellow recovering members of Alcoholics Anonymous.  Locally one of our members has left the rooms and will only be returning in spirit as he is remembered from time to time for the ESH he has left us with.   I met him in1995 when we both worked at a local rehab.  He and I were doing the youngsters...those guys and gals just starting their practice of alcoholism and/or drug addiction and were being pressured into our in-patient facility.  He was good at what he did and went on to larger responsibilities while I made my self scarce.  I don't like working with administration staff who is sicker than the patients and so I walk by mutual agreement.  Leonard should have check out earlier in life as a drunk and druggie.  He showed me how his HP gave him his ticket back after it had been punch three times by a 357 magnum.  He got a clean 3 shot bracket right around his heart and in emergency when his body was trying to follow where his spirit was trying to go they brought him back...several times and then God put him to use working with drunks and druggies after he found recovery himself.  I like him a lot...cool guy, quiet and smiley...happy person and sober and clean.  I can't remember the last time I saw him but it was at a morning meeting here in Hilo and he was escorting a new group of us thru the paces.

Word is that he had a stroke and then an anuerism and then they disconnected all life support.   Thank you God for Leonard F.  I should be like him more often.  I won't miss him cause he has an apartment in my head and my heart just like my past elder sponsor and much of the fellowship who got me sober and who left gifts I can use to stay sober.  Leonard is a 3rd step prayer fulfilled.  Mahalo Akua...Thank you God.

Jerry F