Still Another Friend Lost to Prostate Cancer

John Helmer was a quiet, caring, and friendly man. He was a well known businessman in the Portland, Oregon area for more than 60 years. I met him in a Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial program at Oregon Health and Science University in 2010. It was an exercise program for men with prostate cancer and their spouses - to help determine the effects of continued regular exercise on the health and longevity of prostate cancer patients.

It turned out that the men and women in the program enjoyed being together, formed a bond, and we have continued meeting every few months over the past year - long after the program had finished.

John was a world traveler, mountain climber, cyclist, and marathon runner. It turns out that we both ran the Boston Marathon the same year - almost 30 years before actually meeting. He was 88, but he seemed much younger. Carol and I will miss him as will his wife Beverly, his large extended family, and his very large circle of friends.

I raise a toast to John: a good man, a friend, and a terrific example for the rest of us.

axman