Remembering the lessons learned from Bob Frisk

Bob Frisk found his niche in sports writing early and never tried to be something he wasn't.

The man was a local sports expert, especially a local high school sports expert in these suburbs, because he loved seeing sports help young people grow into adults. To him, local sports were the purest form of athletics, uncorrupted by big money.

What a payoff that was for him. Bob made more friends in the prep sports community than most of us make in and out of our professions in a lifetime. After he retired, and then I did, we talked a few times about what he does to stay busy. Well, among other activities like reading, he had lunch on this day with that group of friends and on another day with another group of friends and on another day with another group of friends, on and on.

Most of those groups were comprised of former coaches he had written about and had supported over more than a half-century. He admired them because of how they helped young people build character and they respected him for the way he chronicled their efforts.

In the meantime as sports editor of this newspaper, Bob found time to hire, mentor and support countless aspiring sports writers who passed through his department. Including me. Maybe especially me. Bob entrusted me with a general sports column and tolerated some of my clumsy decisions along the way. Essentially, he gave me and so many others a career, direction and a professional home.

Bob's great loves were his family, prep sports and The Daily Herald. They provided him with considerable joy and he provided them with as much or more in return.

We all should be fortunate enough to have that said about us in the final telling.