Since I use this space for current events, I felt a desire to write a short theme on our recently passed club member, Ed Baule. When my mother died in early 1984, I lived with my dad in his old, large house. He wanted to downsize and I wanted to be closer to where I worked in Wood River; the drive from and to Belleville was a 2 hour round trip 5 days a week.
When I moved to Alton, I had replaced my TRS-80 with a Commodore 64 and looked for a computer users group, which turned out to be the East Side Computer Club. At that first meeting, there were over 60 people there with nearly everyone running Fast Hack'em; Mark Gholson was using Maverick and Shotgun. It was crowded, with Laura sitting alone at the small desk, so I joined her. Next, Henry Lenhardt introduced me to John Koen who was telling me about his 6 foot robot, twin console stereo, and a few other unbelievable things, along with his desire to have his robot talk, wanting to program the C64 to do so. Fascinated, I went to his apartment, was impressed with his imagination, and we became good friends.
Ed Baule was also at that meeting too, though I didn't meet or really know him till a little while later. I observed he was one of the very few consistent in attending each and every meeting. Shortly after that first meeting, the group was moving to Amiga, having experienced a very impressive Amiga 1000 demo. Thus, when I had an extra Amiga 500 to unload, I offered it as a gift to Ed. He accepted and invited me to join him and his wife, Eileen, for lunch the following weekend, which I accepted. Thereafter, I went on a monthly visit to his comfortable bungalow on Staunton Lake. After Eileen died, I started frequenting him twice a month, and then weekly for the about last 5 to 6 years.
The last 7 years were not easy for him, though he was not one to complain. He had prostate cancer, severe urinary tract infection, as well as a heart murmer and palpitations he said he had most of his long life. He was independently strong, wise, creative, clever, and responsible with an extremely motivating work ethic. I never once saw him angry or hateful. He had a tolerant and forgiving spirit and had his mind, wits, and strong sense of humor till the very end.
I had gone on my Friday visit on 10/12/2007; we stood by my truck and chatted that evening, much longer than usual. He knew then the end was very close, though I failed to see it. The following night, 10/13/2007, he called an ambulance due to major heart pains. They contacted his nearest relative, his niece Cherise, who called me on Monday and said the hospital insisted they find a 24-hour live-in caretaker for him, which I knew he could never accept. He went into a temporary hospice waiting room where he spent his final week. They had diagnosed him with a bleeding heart, probably accelerated by the only anti-biotic drug that could ease his infection.
On 10AM on Friday, 10/19/2007, whether it was him or my imagination, at my house I clearly heard "Rich" in his voice. I changed my mind and decided to drive to Springfield, though Cherise had told me he was sedated and unconcious. Arriving there at 1:45PM on Friday, I talked with Cherise and her brother John. At 2PM I glanced at unconcious Ed and saw him swallow twice then stop breathing. I waited there till Fred, who I think was their dad, arrived and we visited while arrangements for the funeral were made. My 3 hour parking meter was nearly out, and with nothing else I could do, I went home, saddened by the loss.
The funeral was scheduled for Sunday the 21st, since the group was from Chicago. Fred, John, Cherise, their spouses, four young girls, one young boy, and myself comprised the attendees. The funeral director, his assistant, probably his wife who played the organ and sang, a cleric and a Veterans Representative finished the group. After a brief ceramony, the six guys served as pall bearers. Another brief ceremony delivering the final rites, which were very commendable plus an American flag presentation, which Ed has always held in very high esteem, at the cemetary finished it. May he rest in peace.