Remembering Robin Williams for his Kindness

Back in 2011, I wrote and recorded Good for You, Robin Williams. It was my way of saying thank you, from my heart, to Robin Williams for the genuine kindness he showed my Mother the day he met her at a Florida restaurant. How she relished telling and retelling that story to family and friends! I had hoped one day to get the chance to thank him personally — to let him know the positive difference he had made in her life and what that meant to me.

Like millions of people, I was stunned and saddened when I heard the news of his death. His life deeply touched so many of us. His family’s loss is our loss too.

It was more than just his unparalleled comic genius that tickled our funny bones or his ability to touch us to tears — to reach the recesses of our emotions in dramatic roles in films like Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting.

In the days following his death, in all the tributes, we also learned more about the measure of a man who lived his life doing good for others–from raising money for good causes and entertaining the troops in Afghanistan, to recording a simple video for a young woman in New Zealand dying from cancer.

Laughter can be healing and tears can be cleansing. Robin gave so much to the world, and he is already greatly missed. May you rest in peace, Robin, as you are app-laud-ed for the gifts of your immense talent and the generosity of your huge heart.