Dear Editor:
We mourn the recent passing of our neighbor Dick Holmes. We moved next door to Dick and his family just over five years ago. It was truly Dick’s block. He sat outside in front of his house and always greeted our little kids with high fives. We will miss talking to him about our beloved Yankees and hearing him complain about this or that pitcher. We will miss being scolded by him for forgetting to tell him that we were going away on a vacation. We will miss talking Hoboken politics with him.
One of the main reasons we love Hoboken is characters like Dick who have been here for so long yet are welcoming and ready to provide any help to newcomers. When we moved in and were having extensive work done on the house, he was always ready with some sound advice on how to get things done. I will never forget the day he called to me from across the street with his strong ex-cop voice, sounding angry. When I reached his door he handed me a bottle of champagne and said “Welcome to the neighborhood.” It was then and only then that I knew we belonged.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Barbara, Pat, the entire Holmes family and his many friends on our block. Rest in peace Dick.
Andrew Edlin & Batia Zumwalt