Disappointment and Loss

The hardest thing for me in life has never been about the challenges in the jobs I’ve held, the compensation I was paid, or the many opportunities that have come my way. In the last couple of months, three great folks I’ve come to know and call my friends have lost their professional positions unfairly, while two others over the last weekend have lost their lives. 

Two of those individuals who have lost their jobs I was never acquainted with before I took on responsibilities as a writer for the two publications I’ve written for over these many years. The third, I knew before she began working for the city. However, over the years I’ve observed them carry out their duties, as well as had the occasion to interact with them, I found them to be nothing other than 100% professional and helpful. 

It is unfortunate when you work within governmental service that you sometimes find yourself as expendable for the “greater good,” or to protect others. Throughout my career in business, I’ve always felt my greatest responsibility lies in mentoring those who were in my charge. As such, I’ve always felt it should be my responsibility to bring out the great talents within those who would report to me. Failure to do so would in part be my failure, not all theirs, requiring me to look inward to ensure there wasn’t more I could do to salvage that asset for the company. 

I am saddened by the disappointment these three individuals must be feeling and the great loss to the community that they have served over these many years. Our people are our greatest asset, and you can’t put a monetary value on their experience and what they bring to the table, regardless of what you read in a book or hear from some bureaucrat who has never worked outside government.  

During this last Monday I would sadly learn of the loss of two individuals, both great friends of mine. They lost their lives due to an unfortunate accident over this last weekend on the waterways around this wonderful place which they called their home. I had spent some time with them over a week ago, immediately after the 9/11 ceremonies. 

Stephen Mariani had retired as a sergeant with the NYPD and moved to Marco Island after marrying his beautiful wife Rita, whom he met while employed with NYPD and she as a civilian employee of the agency. 

I had the privilege of knowing them both and had been a guest at their home here on the island several times, as they loved surrounding themselves with those they considered as their second family. Whether dancing at the Oyster Society, spending the evening at the Old Marco Pub, or partying at CJ’s on the Bay while dancing to the music of Jimmy Long on a Thursday night during season, they would always be surrounded by their many friends, as well as strangers who would quickly be drawn to them due to  

I would have to cut our conversation short on that Thursday morning after the 9/11 ceremonies, as I had to run to catch a flight to Chicago to meet Janet, as we had plans to explore the beauty of Lake Michigan from the shores of Wisconsin, something we had planned for a while. Little did I know that would be the last time we would share a conversation and a laugh together.  

I am brokenhearted that I’ve lost those two wonderful souls from my life, leaving only their memories and a void in my heart due to their passing. This void will be shared by so many others they would call their friends and members of their extended families. Surely the lights will burn a little darker this next year without their presence, as we miss the energy they would bring with them.