I met Orlando in 1973 or 74 when we were stationed together in the Navy, what seems to be so very long ago. I was new to the world and was fascinated by different people since I came from a very closed area in remote Pennsylvania. I asked where he was from he said “norlens” and then he said, I’m Cajun, man. He was the first Cajun I had ever met and was attracted to his carefree nature and zest for life. We began to become good friends and getting loaded together on a regular basis to fend off the loneliness of the assignment. He was shipped out to another hospital and for some strange reason I was sent to a school at the same base. We seemed to just pick up the conversation where it was left at our last meeting. He and I found ourselves regularly in potential problematic situations at times at parties and other events but I always felt safe and protected around him and for some reason, even though we were bullet proof at that age we avoided conflict and prosecution for our discrepancies. He always talked about his family and how much he missed his home and how much he loved his family. Once again he was transferred out and once again I ended up at the same hospital, this time I was appointed to be in charge of training others and consulted with him regarding operating room technique. I valued his opinion, his knowledge and his skill. I have never in my time met a person that was so gifted in providing assistance in surgery as Orlando and he frequently would take my students under his protective wing and show them how to be the best at what they did. His skill would inspire them to attempt to emulate him and to be as good as he was in his field. We again would take trips to find interesting places to explore and learn about the world. His time with the Navy came to an end and he told me if you ever get to “norlens” call me and I will show you the right side of town. Several years later I got the opportunity to visit the area on business and I called him. He met me at my hotel and kidnapped me, took me to meet his family that he always spoke of and it almost felt as though we were old friends from the many stories that he told of his father, mother and others. After a wonderful visit he took me to a weird place that looked run down and bought me some gumbo and told me that the stuff downtown was not as good as it was here, it was awesome. Then to a biker bar, and then to the French quarter to see what the tourists were doing. After a few more drinks he told me that we needed to go see a show. We sat down and this woman came out and started dancing, I thought she was real pretty and later she sat down beside me at the bar and I bought her a drink, Orlando was sitting beside me laughing his big laugh and nearly falling off the bar stool. I asked him what was so funny, he then told me that it was a female impersonator bar and I was buying some dude a drink. Needless to say we left the bar laughing. I always heard that what happens in Vegas stays there but I think that Orlando originated the saying in New Orleans. I had a great time. We seemed to just pick up the conversation where we had left it and I flew back home. It seemed that he and I always knew when to call each other and if I lost track of him I would call the parents and dad would give me his new number. There was always laughter involved in our conversations. I have met many people in my life, some walk in circles waiting for a vision or direction, but Orlando fully embraced life and lived the dream. Many of us in this world hide our feelings, not Orlando. He always had a light that came from within him. If you were his friend you knew it. For many years since we have called and visited with each other’s lives, to catch up but always seemingly picking up where we left off. But one thing that never changed was the fact and statement he made “I love my family”. He would also say at the end of our conversation, “give my love to your family, I love you JB”, he was such a great gift to have in my life and I looked forward to hearing of his adventures. I was the homebody and he was the adventurer. Truth be told, I am not sure that he would have been happy being a homebody, there was so much of him to share and such a big world. He continued to do what he loved and that was Hearts. He would continue to travel to different places in America and pull others under his wing and encourage them to be the best they could be and to have the passion that he had for his craft. He probably had forgotten more about heart surgery than most surgeons in America would ever learn; he had skilled hands and a great mind, but more so a great heart of his own that would surround you and give you peace to know that you were loved. He touched many in his career and instantly earned their respect, never by bragging, but by quietly showing the way. It is uncommon for anyone to have such a close friendship with someone else for this long of a time, especially someone that you met elsewhere. But it almost felt that we had known each other forever. I think that came from him and his way of being such a good person. You wanted to be around him because he was such a noble and honest person. Over the years I always knew that he was very proud of his brother Carlos and his sister had a place in his heart that no other woman, other than his mother could be. I will always remember his smile, I will always hear his laugh and I feel blessed to have him call me his friend. I am heartbroken that he is no longer walking with us all, I will miss the light that comes from him. He knew how to love. I will take comfort in knowing that his friendship will continue and once again we will pick our conversation back up where we left it, one day. In the meantime he will watch over us all.