It's hard for me to believe that my friend Roger Rechler has died. Roger was only 66 but he was diagnosed with cancer five short months ago and it metastasized and took his life much too soon. I have known Roger for over 30 years and indeed met him through Sunny Shay who sold him an Afghan. He was living in Dix Hills, Long Island then and the next thing anyone knew Roger and Sunny teamed up such that after Sunny prematurely passed away, Roger acquired Grandeur Kennels, the Afghan kennel Sunny had made so famous. Together with Mike Canalizo they formed a hard-to-beat team in the Hound ring which they monopolized for years. Roger’s three sons were active in Junior Showmanship then, and I often watched Scott, Greg and Todd compete, with Roger usually on hand, too. When Roger originally moved to Mill Neck and married the lovely Evelyn they subsequently added a fourth son Bill to the mix. Bill, as both Scott and Greg eulogized at Roger's funeral, is the youngest son, only 12 – and to quote the boys, Roger finally "got it right." At the cemetery (the funeral was attended by well over 1,000 people with a full police escort – most deserving tribute to a man who together, first with his brother Donald and then the elder Rechler boy, virtually revolutionized commercial building on the Island) he was the first to visit with the 'dog folk' who had come to pay their respects. Quite a young man is Bill.
We were often guests at Evelyn and Roger’s homes as were they at ours. He was a strong, loyal friend who excelled in anything he undertook to do. I would be remiss to tell you that perhaps two of their closest friends, if not closest, were Dennis and Susan Sprung. Roger was more than a great cook – he could compete on any level with virtually any chef anywhere. I like to cook, too, and we frequently discussed cooking techniques, but believe me, mine were so secondary as compared to his that I was often embarrassed when he brought up the subject. Roger was a devoted family man, a devoted dog man, a true friend. I will miss going to Yankee games with him (I usually had an excuse when he would suggest Met games) and will certainly miss his presence at Ladies on Long Island. I send Evelyn and Bill my love and they know I am there for them if ever they need me – but I can tell you this, so are an awful lot of other people, as well. Roger is a treasure lost for sure!
Muriel I knew for a long time as well but I cannot say we were friends in an intimate sense. She was a strong supporter and critic of mine and never hesitated to let me know when she disagreed with me. She was president of Westbury for six years and a lifelong member of LIKC. She was an incredible athlete and totally devoted to the Rottweiler. Her closeness to Dorothy Collier is a documented fact and the two were more like sisters.
Muriel was 91 years old when she died and she had basically been inactive in dogs for the last decade or so. I saw her last at the Garden at the Rottie ring this year and thought she looked particularly frail. It is incredible to think that the dog world lost two people of such import within the last ten days but that's just life, one must presuppose.
In this week's issue Connie Vanacore gave the impression that the subject of breed changes in the groups was bantered around at the Delegates meeting. What a sure way to kill that idea! I mean the Committee should make the recommendation with Staff input and the Board should approve it – period. You'll never get the Delegate Body to agree on that sort of a change in a million years.