R.I.P. Eddie

Our industry lost another great soul on Monday and I felt the need to honor his memory with a few personal comments.

I knew Ed "Eddie" Kastelz from back in my JMK Advertising days....mid 80's, I was just out of college, and newly engaged. He was our "film" go to guy at National Correct Color. (Back when there were film guys.) I haven't seen him or talked to him much over the last 20 years since I left the agency business and moved into paper....but whenever I heard that very distinctive voice (if you knew him, you know the one I mean) at an industry event or wherever, it brought a huge smile to my face. He was a great guy. A person I aspired to be like when I grew up....okay so he was only 16 years older...but when you are 22 and he is 38, he seems a lot older. He was fun, he was family oriented and he was a great "film" guy. I remember how smiles came easily to him, and he was always talking about his family. There was always some funny story or another to relate.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to talk to him on the phone, kind of by accident, and he was the same 'ole Eddie---yukking it up and talking about his family, this time his ever growing brood of grand children. He was so proud of them. I can only imagine how sad they are to have lost him at age 63.

That 16 year age difference between us doesn't seem so big now. Makes me think about living in the "now" and not the ... "when I retire someday I'll" ...mentality. He was too young. He had so much more to give. We will miss you Eddie. Rest in Peace.