My Friend Fonz

There are those individuals that God brings into our lives where we share a special connection. Our lives intersect by what seems at first to be circumstantial, but in hindsight God gifted us with someone we cherish and call a close and personal friend. Those handful of individuals outside of our family that we share life together in a natural, flowing way, with a connection that runs deeper than 99% of all other friendships. Along my life journey living in numerous states, I have had the privilege of calling a few men my closest of friends. I remember my High School best friend, where we awkwardly flirted with girls, played the trumpet and basketball side-by-side, my college roommate in Santa Cruz where we still awkwardly flirted with girls (somehow it worked with Charlene), my deep connection with my life-long Dazbog friend in Greeley, and with close friendships developing today in Damascus.

Today, however, I remember one special friend, Fonz Garza (1965-2010). On May 10th, as he was driving his UPS truck in San Antonio, Texas was hit head on by a semi-truck and died instantly leaving behind his precious family. In our seven years in Utah, as Charlene and I just married and starting our family, Fonz showed up one day in our church plant in Kaysville. Fonz stationed at Hill Air Force Base was one who shared his life in an easy going, affable, and joyful manner.

We primarily shared our life together through sports. On the basketball court, at Salt Lake Community College (where I worked) we would challenge younger, taller students to pick-up games and show them that a couple of “old” guys, 30ish, could still bring game. Our summers were spent on the Softball field in the church, co-ed league, with Fonz as the outfield captain and in some games when undermanned, he covered left and center field by himself. At the end of one such game, with his outstanding play, the opposing team congratulated him in his awesome fielding. He taught me the game of golf and gave me my first set of clubs, and in return I taught him how humorous it was to golf as he chuckled each time I swung. Whether it was on the court, on the field, or on the golf course, Fonz was an all-around athlete who embraced life with friends, family and God with the same enthusiasm and joy.

In our small church-plant in Kaysville, Fonz was dedicated and committed. He could laugh off the difficulty of meeting in a mortuary, and brought joy and enthusiasm into Celebration Chapel – kid’s ministry, with the young guys in sports and adults. His love for family was revealed in his deep pain expressed in the death of his 3 month-old daughter, Kaelyn, which I would suspect left an open emotional wound on his heart. With his friends, he was engaging, open and willing to do anything for a friend in need. I feel privileged that Fonz called me his friend.

Today, I am reminded to treasure those who allow me to be a close friend to them. Today, I am reminded to not take for granted those special friends, and to nurture new close friendships as well. Today, I am reminded that it is God who brings together potential life-long close friendships for joy, encouragement and strength along life’s journey.

Fonz thank you for your friendship and someday we will share the competitive joy on Heaven’s fields and courts together.

My heartfelt prayers to Deloris, Jordan, Marcos and Arianna – May God flood your heart and soul with His peace, comfort and counsel today and each tomorrow.