Monday, July 6, 2015
Dear Doris, Nancy, Cindy, and family,
The Levy's and the Lackners have been inextricably entwined since way before my birth. When my paternal great grandfather, Sam Banner, passed, my grandparents, Emma and Harry inherited what was then a junk business. But since they owed money to the estate for Sam's second wife, Harry approached his long-time friend and boss at the May Company, Max Lackner, to go into partnership with him. I think, but am not sure, that my father, Norman, and Ed joined Banner Hardware Co. about that time, which was the early 1950s. Banner Hardware became Banner Distributing Company, and supported all of our families very well until the mid-1980's, when it was sold. By then, Max and Harry were gone, and Norman and Ed retired in their mid-50s.
I had the pleasure of working for Ed for about three years after college, and before going to grad school. I loved him dearly and learned a lot from him. He was tough and didn't suffer fools gladly, but he was kind and sweet too. I was gone from Denver for 40 years, but upon my return reconnected with Ed. Norman had just passed, and Ed filled a big hole in my heart. I loved being with him, confiding in him my inner-most thoughts. He listened carefully and gave me good advice and encouragement. As Cindy said, "He was a great cheerleader for the family."
Ed's downward slide was quick, and in many was inexplicable. I got a chance to be with him a few times after his return to Denver this spring, but it was not enough. I will miss him terribly.
