Bud

My Friend Bud.
Arthur Eldred Bauer, Jr., known to his family and friends as Bud, died on Sunday, October 28, 2007, at the age of 92! He would have been 93 on January 25, 2008. Bud was my friend! I think he was the friend of everyone he came in contact with - because he was friendly. I have never met anyone who was closer to his family than Bud. They supported each other, and liked each other. There is nothing Bud would rather do than be with his extended family. He was so proud of each of them.

Bud and I were big sports fans - he bigger than me. We were both partial-season ticket holders fro the Oakland Athletics baseball games. While we didn’t have exactly the same plans, we did attend many of the same games. We rode the Vallejo bus - Bart link - in to the El Cerrito BART station, where we caught the train which took us to the Coliseum station. In fact, during one of these trips, is where I met Bud. We sat together many times afterwards - both on the bus and onBART. Bud did most of the talking, because I would always ask him what was new with his family? He surely knew what was going on in the family, and he would tell me about their promotions, travels, what was going on in their jobs, the marriages, masters degrees, and other interesting events. Some people would not cozy up to such talk. But, I really enjoyed it. His tone was not one of bragging but just pure pride. I can still see the gleam in his eyes and his face light up, when he mentioned that all three of his sons - their wives - and two grandsons - were all - not only college graduates - but most of them also had their Masters degrees! Bud finished college and joined the Navy during World War II.
I would take a sandwich to the A's games, but Bud would just have a small bag of peanuts in his pocket. I thought that he just skipped lunch until he told me that he liked to get a sandwich and drink in the Westside Club.

Bud was at the October 17, 1989 World Series game, between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletic, when the big Loma Prieto earthquake hit. He gave me an eye witness account of his experience.

The new Carquinez bridge was dedicated not too long ago. At that time, Bud told told me that he saw the dedication of the old 1927 bridge, that it replaced, from the water beneath the bridge. He was 13, and his dad rowed him underneath the new bridge as it was being dedicated!

Bud had a zest for life! He didn't let a hernia operation in his 90's, or a pacemaker, slow him down. He went to Virginia last summer to attend a wedding of one of his nieces. Then, in September, he went to Colorado, to attend another wedding of another niece.
When BART announced that the train would be operating to SFO, Bud suggested that we ride to the airport and check it out. Then, we could have lunch at the airport. I told that it sounde good to me. But, we never gotto take that excursion.

I would like to quote from his Obituary:- “He was a kind, gentle and generous man. He was always ready to laugh, and his love of sports was only surpassed by his great martinis, and fun-loving spirit.” That says it all. While I never tasted one of his martinis, I can vouch for his kindness and generosity, and his love of sports. He was a season ticket holder for both the Oakland Athletics as well as the Oakland Raiders! At 92 - with a pace maker - he seldom missed one of the games for which he had a ticket. When we walked over, from the Coliseum BART station to the Coliseum, on the pedestrian viaduct, there usually was a man sitting legless, on a skate board. Bud would always stop and greet him, and hand him some folded money!

When Laura was alive, the two of them, and Marie and I, would get together for lunch. After Laura died, Bud and I would occasionally meet for lunch Laura, the love of his life - and wife for nearly 64 years - died on April 12, 2006. They were very close and devoted to each other. She was a great lady and uplifting to be around. Bud was never the same after that sad separation. He was so lonesome and melancholy! His heart had been ripped out with her death. The family surrounded Laura as she was dying, and they were there at Bud’s bedside, that Sunday - not long ago - when he left this world to join her.
Bud’s son Bernard lived in Fresno. He was a raisin broker. I knew when Bud had been to Fresno, or Bernard had been to Vallejo, because I would get a phone call from Bud saying that he wanted to make sure that I was home, and he would be right over. He would bring me a large package of raisins! I haven’t had to buy raisins for my cold cereal since I met Bud!
I am so glad that Bud’s and my paths crossed in this life. I am much better for it, And I like to think that he benefited too.
Ray L’Amoreaux.
November 14, 2007. Edited 11-23-07.