My friend Joe Rago died on Friday. Everyone who knew Joe understood how much he loved his family, the law and politics. Everyone knew he was a staunch conservative Republican who loved this country, but maybe they didn't know what a wonderful and gentle man he really was. I loved having conversations with him and seeing that twinkle in his eye, his smile, and hearing about how much he loved the law. He graciously offered to come and speak to my classes (when I taught college) and shared his experience and passion for the U.S. Constitution with young people who really had never experienced anyone like him until that time. When he left my students would ask me if he was really as nice a person as he seemed, if he really loved the law and this country as much as he said and I'd just smile and tell them everything about Joe was real--he was a real American patriot, and a darned good lawyer--both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney who helped so many people who needed an aggressive advocate. Joe was all that and more.Every time I'd think of Joe I'd pray for him and his family. Joe loved his wife so very much and bragged about his kids. His face would light up when he spoke about them.
When I'd see Joe at political meetings and we'd often walk out after them very frustrated by the lack of progress we knew was attainable. We'd talk for a long time about the direction we wanted to see our country, our state, our county and our local leaders take. He and I were usually in agreement, sometimes angry, sometimes really angry, but never - never doubting that we'd always be Republicans and always support the party we knew would always be better than anything the donkeys (and we thought they were asses) could ever do. Joe was a class act who marched in parades, held the American flag, and showed his love of country every day. Joe wrote my daughter an incredible letter of recommendation for his law school alma mater (nope, she didn't get in there, but not for lack of effort on his part), and when she was accepted at other schools he was the first to congratulate me and tell me that she would do well and would make a great lawyer.
Joe was taken by pancreatic cancer, but he wasn't a victim of it. Nothing about Joe said "victim." Nope, he was a happy guy. I'll miss him, and the world is a sadder place because he won't be around to share that smile and that laugh (it was great). Please say a prayer for him and for his family. He'd like that.
Click here for Joe's obituary. Please consider contributing to a fund for his children's education c/o Fifth Third Bank in Geneva, Illinois. Information is available @ 630/232-8233.
