My husband Andrew, who began this blog in October 2007, died peacefully on September 3rd 2012, at the age of 83, after long and well-controlled illness culminating in a sudden, brief decline. I'll be posting pieces of his life writing and autobiographical reminiscences to his other blog, The Game of Life. This blog will be used for other material relevant to Andrew, beginning with the wonderful tributes to him which poured in after his death, both by email and on facebook. At some point this blog will become an archive, without further additions.— Rosemary Nissen-Wade


Monday 2 September 2013

Email tributes to Andrew after his death

4/9/13

Dear Rosemary,

So sorry to hear about
 Andrew's departure.  He was a good man and will be missed.

Lots of love to you.
Irene and Robert

  
4/9/13

Hi Rosemary,

I knew when we met you guys last xmas it was the last time I would see Andrew, it was nice to be able to say goodbye. He was one of the most generous, compassionate, and caring individuals I have ever met.

Our heartfelt condolences
Ruth & Des xxxxx 


4/9/13

Dear Rosemary,

So sorry for your loss, but also so glad to read that Andrew passed so peacefully and that you were able to be with him till the very end.
I’m glad I was able to meet him; you clearly had a wonderful, loving marriage, and he was clearly a wonderful man.
Much love
Liz xxxx


4/9/13

My Dear Rosemary
My impression of Andrew through our writing group was an extremely gentle man, more highly evolved than many. I am so glad he slipped away peacefully.
My thoughts are with you both.
Warm Regards
Bron 


4/9/13

Dear Rosemary,
Sorry to hear of your loss. You are right, Andrew touched a lot of people in his life in a special way. It is heart warming to hear of such a peaceful passing. 

Therasia


4/9/13

Andrew has contributed to so many, and like a ripple in a pond his
legacy will continue in so many ways we will never fully know.

Jo Heriot 


4/9/13

He was a lovely man and an inspiration to many including me. I loved his ‘no bullshit’ approach to tasks and his writing was elegant and very readable. Many of us will miss him.

Lots and lots of love at this difficult time

Your old friend Hoppy


4/9/13

To dear Rosemary
 
I am sorry to read today that
 Andrew has gone.  As you have said, he will be missed by many whom he has touched in this life.  I will remember him as we talked for hours on the image Andrew had of "putting things right".  He was a blessed man too as he had 20 years with you in his life, as you were blessed having him in your life.
 
All my love and prayers are with you at this time.

Margo Bunt 


4/9/13

Dearest Rosemary,

My deepest love and warmth comes to you at this time. The love between yourself and Andrew was lovely to be around and of course I love that you both shared my home in the mountains of the Tweed.

Sharon x 


4/9/13

Dear Rosemary
 
We were sorry to hear that
 Andrew had finally slipped away but pleased that he had obviously been at peace and with people around him he loved and who loved him.
 
It must have been wonderful to have spent 20 years with
 Andrew and to have felt so blessed.  We remember well the few times we spent time with you both - both in Australia and on our trip round the UK.  Andrew was always so curious and interested in things and enjoyed exploring both people and places.
 
You will always have those wonderful memories and we hope they will sustain you during the coming weeks.
 
With all our love.
 
Willem and Sue


 5/9/13

dearest Rosemary,  thank you so much for your tender e-mail letting me know about andrew's departure. my heart is with you as you grieve your loss and celebrate his wonderful life. all of us who love him, miss him and cherish our sharing time with him, especially for me having seen him recently and being with you both.
the angels are celebrating his arrival as he ventures forward on his next big adventure.

Jo Rawson


5/9/13

As we both know our dear
 Andrew is not gone...and know he has transitioned beautifully.

As you probably know it was/is a bit of a toss up who was more in awe of whom when it came to Andrew’s and my ongoing bucket list achievements. I loved the way he would always immerse himself smack bang in the centre of what was cutting edge spiritually.... whether his consciousness could catch up or not. For that I will always smile and say well done Andrew, you really lived your life as Carpe Diem!

Raeline Brady


 5/9/13

Hi Rosemary. We are saddened to hear that Andrew has gone. We are grateful that at least he could go in peace and with dignity. Although we never met him over those many years I'm sure that if we had we would, from all I've heard in that time, have been good mates. Our thoughts are with you and his family.
 
Love,
 
Jim & Joy.


6/9/13

Hi Rosemary
Ros and I are extremely saddened by Andrew’s passing but we know that you will be celebrating Andrew’s life forever.

He certainly was a mentor to many.

love and blessings to you Roger & Rosslyn


6/9/13

The world is now one very loving human being less, with the departure of Andrew from our midst.

Words fail me, to bring you comfort at this time of such a HUGE loss, especially as he is/was SUCH a loving man. Love SHONE out of his eyes, EVERY time I saw him.

Margie Moore 


7/9/13

Dear Rosemary,
Sadness of Andrews passing.
The small time I knew him I found him a gentle man, with an amazing sense of humour.
Andrew's blue eyes would twinkle to suggest there was a secret he knew that no else did. Andrew was interested in what I had to say in writing and gave generously his time and opinion.
A gentleman that this world is sorry to lose yet a pleasure to have met.
My thoughts are with you, and his children
Regards Jan Busch


8/9/13

This is beautiful, he has left in a beautiful way. All worlds are here, he has just begun to see them as he moves to the next dimension. Love be with you, as his physical leaves his spirit remains. My hand is in yours and my heart sending love and peace.

My love to you in this time and the knowing that Andrew touched my and Tom’s hearts deeply. Love and peace be with you always

— Neena and Tom


 10/9/13

Rosemary,
          We are so sad to hear of Andrew' s  passing away. We will miss his adventurous  inquiring spirit ,his cheerful voice  and fond friendship. Thank you for sharing so eloquently all the warm and challenging moments you shared with him. I can relate as I have just spent 2 weeks  at my Mum's bedside last month. We hold you in our love and thoughts as you face all the changes ahead.  I look forward to reading Andrew's "Jorell" story to our grand children one day while remembering the inspiration that achievement was, to go for your goals no matter what age! We also admire his contribution to youth through the Discovery course. We will miss him dearly .
Much Love,
             Leanne  and Ian 


11/9/13

Dear Rosemary

We have just heard the sad news from Esther in Strathaven. Our sincere condolences.

Andrew and I communicated occasionally about the family tree between about 2005 and 2007.

You may or may not know that
 Andrew's father Stuart was a brother to (Swire) Bernard Wade, who was my grandfather. Bernard's son Stuart was my father.

Our elder daughter Helen lives in Auckland, and has three children. We visit her as often as we can, but have not yet ventured as far as Australia. Perhaps we will make it next time.

Very best wishes to you and your family.

Ian and Margaret Wade
 


12/9/13

I am so upset. Andrew was as you say a very special person. Such a beautiful sincere smile.  That is the memory he has left me. 
— Jan Howe


 13/9/13

Dear Rosemary, thank you for your email regarding Andrew's death & please accept our deepest condolences. We are pleased that he did not suffer a prolonged illness & that his end was peaceful & without pain.

We keep in touch with Ian & Margaret Wade & Ian had let me know of Andrews demise a couple of days ago, but he obviously did not know of any details at the time.

My paternal great grandfather was Robert Wade, hence the family connection.

Please pass on our commiserations to the other members of the family. We are sure that he will be sadly missed by all.

Kindest regards
Stuart & Barbara Banks
Bolton
England.


 15/9/13

I think of you and Andrew every day and my thoughts are loving. 
— Maggie Good




Facebook tributes to Andrew after his death

3/9/13
Rest in Peace Andrew E Wade. You were, and are, loved by many. You will be remembered for all the good things you did with your life, the wonderful care, love and companionship you gave to our darling Rosemary Nissen-Wade, your hospitality, your humour, your questing mind, and curiosity about the world. Blessings to you.  — Satya Helen Patrice


5/9/13
Dear Rosemary, Thank you so much for the message. My loving energy goes to you. This is for you and Andrew. Like all, I too will miss the 'Squire'. Yet, I am blessed with many, many wonderful memories. The beautiful flowers from the 'Pilbara' region ... Love and Joy, James























12/9/13
Dear Rosemary, my love and blessings to you as you journey with Andrew's passing - thank you for letting me know. A strong rainbow bridge built between worlds as he travels, and your Light remains stabilised here - what a gift for the Universe! Love and Blessings Dear Heart, Val x x x


14/9/13
 The ceremony and sharing for Andrew's departure was profound. I think it is the first time I have attended a funeral other than Thailand and Nepal where it is considered liberation to leave the body. He has left a trail of enlightened beings. Love Kay


16/9/13
Andrew Wade was the most unusual of men and I adored him. 
I enjoyed Friday writing sessions with him, and missed him heaps when he wasn’t well enough to come. I loved it when he read his work - I doubt anyone could imbue a war story with more compassion than Andrew did. And, he was fun and funny!
I came from an abusive marriage years ago, so I was fascinated by the fact that he was SO comfortable in his masculinity he was able to show care and compassion and love for those around him, whilst still being a "bloke". Andrew was one of only two men in my life that I would hold up to my boys as an example of how a “real” man ought to behave.
So no, he was not your average bloke.
When I was diagnosed with metastasized cancer I would get phone calls on my mobile that would include no preamble: no, "hi, this is Andrew." Rather, “What about so and so…?”or, "I've had another thought..." and go on to tell me about the possible natural treatment he'd thought might help, or a new age 'something' he'd just remembered might help get me through the chemo symptoms. Each time this happened it brightened my day heaps and now and then, when I tried them, they were a great help.
Then there was the day when things looked very bleak indeed, and I answered the phone to, “I was thinking of you, and wanted to make sure you were okay.” Way to go on the ESP, Andrew – you saved my butt that day!
And of course, he was always telling me to remain positive. And I did - and I’m well again. And I only wish he were, too. Words are so useless at times, so let’s just go with - I’m really going to miss you, Andrew. Lots of love, Cheryl


16/11/12
Hi Dad, 
It feels slightly silly communicating with you because you're not here any longer, but if it is true that there does exist another life when we die then maybe it’s not so silly.
If it wasn't for you, I don’t think I would be who I am. You are the reason why I believe there is a more spiritual and progressive way of thinking. You are the reason that inspired me to look inside and believe in myself. 
Mum was the pragmatic one, the one who for a lot of my growing up refused to believe there is a God or a God energy . If you had not been around I think I would have been a different person. 
I just want you to know that you were a great dad. Someone who although wasn't the regular father figure, you always tried to inspire Duncan, Adam and I. 
We all love you so much. You are an inspiration and you have left a gap in the world. We were lucky to have you as a dad and I know for every step I took, you were there like a guardian angel, helping me along the way. When there was a fork in the road or I was going through a rough patch, you were there gently encouraging me to take a path that allowed me to grow and become a better person. 
You are still my inspiration,
Love you dad forever, CC xxxxxxx


2/2/13 Posted by Rosemary
This was Andrew E Wade, and then some!
"To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch . . . to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!"
~Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century


4/2/13 (Andrew's birthday) Posted by Rosemary
I have just finished reading a book about death, a beautiful book called The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. It is narrated by Death — who, in the book, is quite a decent bloke. At one point he remarks that a difference between humans and himself is that humans have the good sense to die.
Today would have been my dearest's 84th birthday. But he died when he was still 83. Eight and three make 11, the number of mastery. And he had mastered his life by its end. He had mellowed considerably from the lovable but exasperating little dynamo he so often used to be. He had absolutely entered into unconditional love. Sometimes, from dementia, he was like a child. But it was a light dementia, and even at his most confused moments he knew how to be loving, and was most concerned that I should know I was loved. (I did know. I do know.) He was like that in his many lucid moments, too.
He had the good sense to die just at the point where his body stopped working. Up until then, although he had pain and frailty, limitations and frustrations, his quality of life outweighed its drawbacks. He died just at the point where it was going to become the other way about.
He was a great communicator during his life, and since his death he has been in communication with those who are able to perceive it. So we know that he is busy and happy, interested and engaged as always. Resting in peace? Not exactly. But his earthly troubles are over. He lived a long life, experienced joy and adventure, and contributed a lot to the wellbeing of others.
I miss him like hell, remember him well, and cannot wish that he had lingered longer. I was very lucky to be with him for those 20 brilliant years.

Rosemary a beautiful commentary on Andrew's life well lived and loved, including his total love and commitment to you x.x.x. — Marg Watson

Beautiful Words Rosemary....full of love and light....I remember his restlessly enthusiastic spirit seeking seeking seeking....questioning and wondering....ready to appreciate and value others....and I remember your first years together. Wishing you all the best and sending you love on this day which still remains his birthday even though he has moved on....Lots of Love Ursula 

Thank you again for allowing us into your world beautiful woman... BIG Hugs to you and to Andrew... a stunning Man. — Katherine Cunningham

I feel blessed to have always felt loved by Andrew also. And the Book Thief is among my all-time fav books, with sentences so beautiful they made me cry with joy. — Shae  Brown