A Great Man

Dear Wynn’s family and friends:
It has taken me a long time to commit to what I would say here. Words seem so inadequate. I know Wynn (present tense intended), because he was my neighbor for the couple of years that I lived in the building behind his. I moved away about a year and a half ago. Both buildings are owned by N.D. (that’s nothin doin he says when he introduces himself) Anderson, the amazing 95 or 96 year old landlord that Wynn and I loved to visit with. Wynn took good care of, the ailing, Mrs. Anderson, among everything else that he had going on…..but, I digress.

“A ha, ha, ha, that is crazy man!” I typically heard Wynn say. When I think of Wynn, often, one of the first things that I think about is his strong, bold, intense laugh. Really, few people are at ease to laugh like that. So many people are pent up. Not Wynn Martin. When I think of Wynn, I think of perhaps one of the strongest individuals that I have ever met. It takes strength to be positive in all kinds of situations. There is pretend strength, of the “I will find someone to take care of that type”. There is the dumb, pretend strength that gets people in over their heads. (Sound like another W?) Wynn was neither of these. He was, of the rare, understands totally, sees the risks, feels the fear, sees the solution and pushes forward type. His laugh told me that.… his laugh told me that. His actions told me that. His extraordinary, ever present, kindness told me that.

Apparently, he seemed kooky to some; but to me, his kookiness was a response to the craziness of the world that we all live in. I think he saw unfairness, selfishness, fear and greed, but did not process it the way many of us do. It did not cause him to look inward in any way. He never waisted thought on what was wrong and impossible to affect. He focused directly on what he could affect. He reacted to the world by being extraordinarily fair, more giving, bolder and more altruistic. He was, perhaps more than anyone that I have known, and certainly with respect to the most important things in life, a man of action. He was a deeply spiritual man who worshipped in his own way. No doubt, he is living well in the world beyond and his spirit lingers here.

Wynn encouraged me to return to school. He returned to school, to become a nurse, a few months after I met him. I begin studying next week for a First Professional Master’s Degree at The University of Texas School of Architecture. Wynn's spirit is with me now as I begin this journey. He was a very, very good man. Thank you to his parents, Scott and other family for the wonderful Reggae and Vegetarian Indian Cuisine fun filled party in his honor. Wynn's life made a difference for the better and will continue to do so through all of the friends and family whose life he enhanced.

Roman J.A. McAllen