It’s July 15th and on that day, for me, it’s #CelebrateAngeloDay.
A great friend, a bro., the person who introduced me to Anthony Robbins’ “Awaken the Giant Within”, the person who introduced us to the benefits of owning a laptop and electronic portable device at the time, the person who purchased Windows 3.0 and gifted it to me as a hint to build and purchase my own PC, the friend who would keep an eye out on the road, while I tried to learn how to drive a stick shift, the friend who came with me for hundreds of miles for an important speech I had to give after lacerating my hand and driving the rest of the way back home, the person who introduce me to technology, the person who was inspired by the first responders of 9/11 that he went to New York a year after to show his support, the person who introduced me to a major CEO that seemed all but impossible to meet with at one of the numerous $1,000 a plate events I had to attend for my job, the person who introduced me to enjoy the finer things in life especially pricey cuisine and my induction to eating escargot (lol) and of the most talented entertainment photographers I had a chance to work with.
Angelo Delos Reyes was a person who put others first before him. This was the type of guy who would travel hundreds of miles for others when they needed help.
Several weeks before he passed away, I had an extra ticket to see Derek Jeter’s final game in California and with many people not interested in baseball (or my New York Yankees), Angelo said yes. Always knew I could count on Angelo Delos Reyes, for being there and afterward… We ate dinner and it was a bit somber. In hindsight, I think he knew that he wouldn’t be around that much longer due to his health and he said “You and your brother (Charles Amith) were always there for me, if I pass away, can you please let my family know that I made a difference in people’s lives. That I did something with my life.”
Personally, it hurts not to have my good friend Angelo Delos Reyes around. My grandmother used to say that “you have a lot of friends, but there will be that one childhood friend that you will want to have in your life, when everyone else is not there for you but will be there for you”.
For me, that was Angelo Delos Reyes.
Rest in peace good friend and today it’s #CelebrateAngeloDay
As part of #CelebrateAngeloDay, I watched “The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1” from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” Season 3.
If there is one thing that Angelo Delos Reyes was very into, it was “Star Trek”, especially “Star Trek: The Next Generation”.
Angelo spoke technically, intelligently while not like Sheldon of “The Big Bang Theory”, it was almost like Spock of “Star Trek” or Data ” of ST:TNG.
Long ago, when I was a teenager, I thought it was rare to see someone speak in such a way. But the more you start to meet others who worked in the science, IT or computer programming field, you start to realize it’s not so rare. Even, I can get that way sometimes…(lol).
But one episode that really left us in high anticipation for S4 was the season 3 finale of ST:TNG titled “The Best of Both Worlds Part 1” which featured the crew of the Enterprise confronting the Borg.
Needless to say, this attention to “Star Trek” I could recall Angelo purchasing and wearing a Starfleet uniform, purchasing a communicator, meeting members of the cast, purchasing that bootleg video at a sci-fi con of the cast cursing.
I can remember, we would discuss what transpired after each ST:TNG episode (and how beautiful Marina Sirtis was in each episode – Deanna Troi fans can agree). Geeky, I know.
#CelebrateAngeloDay When it came to Boston House of Pizza, Angelo Delos Reyes was a big fan at that place.
When I worked in the Silicon Valley, I would receive a call from Angelo, “Hey, I’m in the Lemoore area and guess where I’m at? Boston Pizza.”
And I would know why and I’d always say, “You have a ton of places to eat in SF? Why travel all the way to Lemoore for steak special sandwiches?” (lol)
And he would say, “Of all the steak sandwiches I’ve tried, Boston Pizza is the best!”.
Back in the day, he would often help the owner, Roy, with computer support and always respected Roy. I don’t even think he wanted any money from Roy for his services, when he did work for him. If I recall, he was fine enough doing it for steak specials (lol).
So, for #CelebrateAngeloDay, Angela and I will partake in a Boston Pizza Steak Special.
