Posted 6 July 2005

A Tribute to Randy Witter

Late in 2004, I received an email from a gentleman in California who was living with early-stage Alzheimer disease. I correspond regularly with patients and their families and am amazed and humbled by how many of them respond to their diagnosis by volunteering for research. This particular letter made an especially deep impression. Its author was not able to follow through on his intent because of his untimely death. His widow generously agreed to let us post this correspondence as our way of paying respect to his spirit and inspiring example. —June Kinoshita, Executive Editor

Gentlepersons,

I do not need technical assistance myself, but am looking for a way I may contribute to the research effort. I am a recently diagnosed victim[?] of Alzheimer's disease. I have now only mild symptoms of memory loss and misuse of words. I also recently made a socially unacceptable faux pas. I want to find some way I may contribute to discovery of a cure or prophylactic. Is there near me a study of some sort of which I could be a member? I live in Valley Springs, California, about 30 miles east of Stockton, CA, about 50 miles southeast of Sacramento, CA, in the low foothills in Calaveras County. I wish so much to help. Please advise, and Thank You.
Randy Witter

Monday, January 24, 2005 11:55 AM

Dear Mr. Witter,

Thank you for posting your question. Your interest in participating in research is very commendable. I suggest that you contact the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease research center. They have a number of studies that may be of interest to you: http://alzheimer.ucdavis.edu/research/projects.php

I hope this information is helpful.

Feb 6, 2005, at 2:25 AM

Thank you for the information but with sadness I have to tell you that Randy passed away on January 5th. At the present time, I will no longer need your e-mails.

Barbara Witter

Feb 6, 2005, at 9:20 AM

Dear Barbara,

I am so sorry to hear that Randy has passed on. Although we rarely meet our email correspondents face to face, each is a member of our community and we truly feel the loss. Randy's note made an impact on us, for its selflessness and generosity of spirit. We would like to honor his memory in some way. If you would like us to post a story or texts about him to share with our readers what kind of person he was, we would be honored.

Sincerely,
June

Mar 24, 2005, at 10:57 AM, Barbara/Randy Witter wrote:

Thank you for your kind words. I am still getting over the loss. Randy was just beginning to have some major difficulties with Alzheimer's when he died from a massive heart attack on the 5th of January.

Randy was a very special man with deep faith, who turned his early retirement into an opportunity to volunteer in the community. He was active in his church and founder of the Community United Methodist Church Community Food Pantry which served so many in this area over the last couple of years. Previously, Randy had also been a volunteer fire fighter and engineer with Jenny Lind Fire Department, where he also served as a first responder. He also was able to provide medical transportation to seniors until he was no longer able to drive.

Here is a picture Randy loved best that was taken in December with his daughter and her boys.

It wasn't just what he did in life that made him special, but his attitude toward living. We were not only husband and wife, but also best friends. I felt cherished until the day he died and hope he felt the same. Randy usually had a smile on his face and a joke or two to share. Many remarked at his memorial service that he certainly was a "character," and that was true. You seldom saw him without his western hat and boots around town. He had such a marvelous intellect and was able to recall more trivia than most of us learn in the first place. When he was diagnosed with Alzheimers, his whole world came apart for a couple of months and then he accepted it, vowing to do all he could while he could. Alzheimer's was such a blow to his sense of self and all he was so proud of being and doing.

It came as no surprise that he would want to volunteer for a study or clinical trial that would help others, even when he knew he probably would not benefit from it. He was just that way and convinced that someday soon, others would not have to deal with the tragedies of this disease.