I just received a phone call that my cousin’s first born child had passed away. Scott was thirty-nine years old and was one of the most inspiring, courageous and unique of men. “He was a man, take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again.” Surely his national presence and influence touched many that were able to recognize the spirit in him. He met many celebrities (Cher, President Clinton, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Olympian Shawn Johnson, Cindy Lauper, Tommy Lee, Jay Leno, Tony Orlando, Tim Robbins, Pete Rose, Deion Sanders, Ryan Seacrest and boxer Leon Spinks) that were enamored with his wit and infectious vitality. He touched so many lives that his legacy will have generational impact. His funeral will attract hundreds upon hundreds. He glowed so brightly that he was given the privilege of being a torchbearer for the 2004 Olympic as it passed through the United States.
He was 3’4” tall and weighed 40 pounds. He was born with Crane-Heise Syndrome, of which only 12 cases have been documented…and Scott was the only known living person with this malady. He couldn’t walk and only talk with interpretation but, never the less, he communicated life wherever he went. He was a small man with a huge soul and his absence will be widely and deeply felt.
The lesson for us here is that anyone can make a positive difference in the world regardless of who they are or whatever disadvantages that they have. It takes guts to live fully and leave behind a fragrant legacy.