One More Hug for Cousin Irwin

My second cousin Irwin was a boisterous, hilarious Mensch from Chicago who was a snappy dresser and the best hugger ever. He and my Dad were first cousins, and while they saw each other only occasionally because they lived far apart, they had an incredibly strong bond. They laughed just alike, requiring lots of oxygen at first then later handkerchiefs to dry their guffaw-induced tears.

After moving to Florida to enjoy a long career in the newspaper business, Irwin retired and learned to play golf, sold storm windows part-time, and worked as a substitute middle school teacher well into his 80s. He did it for the human contact and to keep his wits about him. It worked.

Irwin's wife Susan was the love of his life. In Irwin's final years, Susan was living out her days in a nursing home with little recollection of her past. Even when staff couldn't let Irwin in because of COVID, Irwin would drive there every day in case "my Susie" was having a good day. He just wanted to be nearby.

Until the end, Irwin took himself out to lunch regularly (COVID be damned!) as a way to stay connected with people. He said young people would see him eating alone and often "buy lunch for the old guy." He never turned them down.

Irwin Siegel was 90 when he passed away on February 10, 2021. Susan Siegal was 85 when she passed away on March 17, 2021.