posted 09-30-2005 01:55 PM         

Nobody here knew him but his life was inspirational, at least it was for the people who knew him. He was many things, joker, swimmer, mountain climber, but to me he was an explorer; always curious about what was just over the next ridge. He LOVED my orange Prowler and he was the only person I offered to take it for a drive. He declined because he didn't want to mess it up.

He graduated from Johns Hopkins and he dedicated his entire life to fighting various diseases in kids here in the US and overseas. He climbed mountains in North America and South America and Nepal and explored Tibet and Mongolia on foot. He also spent two years in the Peace Corps.

I caught up with him in Nepal where we worked together for four years. In our free time (and sometimes at work...)we'd spend time going over maps of the Himalayan mountains to discuss the most doable peaks and best routes to climb and what gear was most suitable. He was an expert on many high altitude destinations in Nepal and Tibet and he had maps of everything (he was a real packrat). When he went up into the mountains to explore, he would try to take care of sick children in remote villages along the way. The mountains were his sanctuary and any outdoor activity was what he loved.

He established an orphanage in Nepal that's still taking care of a bunch of kids. Most recently he was working on health programs related to child health issues in Iraq.

He was 53 and on Wednesday his heart stopped. Up until then there didn't seem to be any end to his energy level and his drive to conquer any obstacle. The thing about Lyndon's active life is amazing is that he only had one leg.

He used to laugh about how tough it was walking into a shoe store an asking the clerk for one shoe! He'd also joke about how hard it was to keep from swimming in a circle since he only had one leg!

He packed a lot of living into a short time...

posted 09-30-2005 02:48 PM         

ps...maybe he is swimming in a straight line now