Posted by Robert F Cowherd on January 19, 2008:

Our Grandpa Col. Robert Cowherd was known to many people in many different ways. He was The Colonel. He was Bob. He was a son, a twin, a husband, and a father. He was the life of the party. He was a friend. He was the guy at the Fairfax who lobbied to dispose of the geese. But to us, he was Grandpa. Grandpa was always there for us at every graduation, wedding, baptism and many of our sporting events. He was the best grandpa anyone could ever have. He taught us to do our best, embrace tradition, and be a role model for our loving family. It was Grandpa who set the tone for many great traditions in our family. On Christmas night, he would always say “Only 365 days til the next Christmas.” Also, we’ll probably always think Rudolph was a “blue nose reindeer.” It was Grandpa who taught us all the words to songs like “Oh, My Darlin’, Clementine,” “Bill Gordon’s Goat,” and of course some of the more benign Army marching songs. There are some he may have regretted teaching us, like when Becky and Jessica got The Look at the Officer’s Club after singing the first line “The biscuits in the army, they say are mighty fine…” It was Grandpa who cheered us on at our soccer games, gymnastics meets, dance recitals, baseball, football, and lacrosse games. He evoked fear in every soccer and basketball referee in the Washington, DC area, to the loving embarrassment of his grandkids. It was also Grandpa ready with a “yeah, yeah, yeah!” and a “you’re the best player out there!” It was Grandpa who would say, “You just keep getting gorgeous-er and gorgeous-er every day,” and even though we knew he’d just said it to my cousins and sisters, we still believed it. It was Grandpa who acted so proud to have his granddaughters as his dates for meals at the Fairfax. It was Grandpa who loved and was proud of each of his 10 grandkids unconditionally – even when we played “hot lava” on his furniture, even when we dropped the collection basket at Christmas Mass, even when he found out that Grandma let us drive well before we were 16, even when we tried to sneak beer into his house for a Christmas Eve nightcap. Grandpa was a man of integrity and as his children have said, he was a moral compass. Many of our friends consider our Grandpa their Grandpa. People close to him said he was an “incredible man”, “such a bright spirit you want to be around” and “I want to be as happy as he and Grandma were.” As accomplished as you have been in touching so many lives around the world, we believe your style, positive attitude, and charisma helped guide us and guide others. Many of us model much of our lives after the precedent set by you and Grandma. You set the standard for love, happiness, always being the ultimate host and hostess, knowing everyone in town, and being the energy at any gathering. Grandpa, you have made your parents, brother, wonderful beloved wife of nearly 52 years, children, grandkids, great grandkids, nieces and nephews so proud. It is now our time to continue to make you proud as well in doing our best, achieving happiness, and continuing to have such loving family and friends. And in your word’s Grandpa – “Love you Baby” The Grandkids

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