I Remember Clay Marc Bond
By Wyatt Earp | January 7, 2011
One year ago today, at this very moment, my friend and fellow blogger Clay Marc Bond lost his battle with cancer. Longtime readers will know Clay as the Right Wing Prof. The nickname was a reference to his chosen profession, as he was a professor of business at both Indiana University and at Penn State University. I first met him in 2007 during a blog meet with Sebastian and Bitter. That day at Geno’s Steaks is one that I will always remember. The four of us talked and laughed for a few hours, and Clay gave me a parting gift: Season 1 of Sleeper Cell on DVD. I was very appreciative, but Clay dismissed it as nothing. That is the kind of person Clay Bond was. Thoughtful, kind, and selfless.
We e-mailed occasionally and commented on each other’s blogs, and I am very proud of the fact that I helped him become a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Of course, he tried to make me a Penn State fan, but I told him there was no way in hell. So, he just ripped my Michigan Wolverines at every turn.
He was good like that; making people laugh and feel at ease. He would let me know if I had a particularly interesting post, and while I would always disagree, I knew it wasn’t butt-kissing. Clay would say something like, “You had this great post the other day . . . ” and I would interrupt with something along the lines of, “You’re drunk!” Clay would counter with, “Well, it wasn’t that good, but . . .” It always made me smile.
He found out about his cancer in late-October, 2009. It was Stage 4 Lung Cancer – the worst – and it spread to his spine. He passed away less than two months later. I was lucky enough to see him in November, and I’m thankful that I visited him in the hospice. To be honest, the more time passes, the more I forget. I can’t remember some of the funnier stories. I can’t remember some of the specific posts he wrote. I can’t remember as much about Clay as I want to, and it’s devastating. I know I’ll never forget the man, but I’ll never remember enough, you know? It’s not fair.
Wow, The Prof would probably kick my arse for such a weepy post, so I will end it on a positive note. Clay’s friends know he was a fantastic cook, and many of his recipes were submitted to Tastebook. You can check them out by clicking here, and you can buy the book and/or sample some of the recipes at the page.
I miss you, Clay, but I take comfort in the fact that you are at peace with the Lord.
(Sebastian has a terrific tribute at Snowflakes in Hell.)
Topics: Cancer | 17 Comments »
January 7th, 2011 at 2:02 am
I lost my step-father in much the same way. The doctor told him in 1997 that he had a stomach ulcer. He went on believing that for a year until he broke his leg sitting up in bed. It was stage 4 stomach cancer that metastisized to the bones. He died two months later.
Cancer sucks.
January 7th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Anyone my age has had to endure the loss of a loved one. All we survivors can do is remember them and the happiness, humour, and joy they brought to our lives, and remember they are in a better place. May God grant us peace and the strength to bring positive memories to those we care about.
January 7th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Wyatt:
My Dad passed from cancer back in 1978…and there’s STILL not a day goes by that I don’t think about him…
Robert B “gets it”…well said.
Stay strong…and always remember.
January 7th, 2011 at 10:17 am
17 years ago I lost a dear friend to Brain Cancer. She would have these headaches where she be off work for 2 or 3 days at a time. Finally the doctor had enough brains to do an MRI and they found the mass on her right side of her brain. She died 5 months later.
Though married with two kids I think about her every day…
Stay strong dude…
January 7th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
It’s been a year already? It doesn’t seem like it. Wow.
January 7th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Picky – That’s exactly what happened to Clay, except it went into his spine.
Robert B. – Amen to that!
Bob G. – That’s why I put up the post.
Ferrell – Stories like these are why I went to get the CT Scan on my head when I found that lump. Didn’t want to take a chance that it was cancer.
Kim – Yeah, I know. Way too fast.
January 7th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
[...] I hadn’t realized it has been a year since Right Wring Prof died of cancer. It’s also my mother’s birthday, who also died of cancer, at 43. She would be 60 today. So here’s to both of them. [...]
January 7th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Sorry Wyatt, Clay seemed like a stand up guy.
January 7th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Godspeed is too late to say. I remember seeing his comments often at other blogs, so please continue to watch over us Professor.
January 7th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Dr. Evil – Thanks, he was a terrific guy. I mean, a Steelers fan, but I didn’t hold that against him.
DirtCrashr – He’s probably shaking his head at the fuss, but I posted this anyway.
January 7th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
To be fair, they make it so easy.
I hope wordpress continues to keep Prof. Bond’s blog up- could make for an interesting time capsule.
January 7th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Fenway – His main blog is gone. It was a paid site. The WordPress one should stand, though. If not, Google “Wayback Machine.” You can find old posts of defunct blogs – including my first blog – there.
January 7th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Howdy Wyatt – I didn’t know Prof. Bond, nor read his blog, but I think it’s wonderful that YOU did and that you posted this tribute to him.
Thanks, I wish I had known him.
January 7th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Real – Thanks. The post was sort of stream-of-consciousness. I kept writing and re-writing because it was so difficult.
January 8th, 2011 at 12:12 am
I am sorry for the loss of a good friend like the Professor.
Ma God comfort you and his family
January 8th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Rick – Thank you.
February 6th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Thanks for this post, which I didn’t see right away. The recipes are a comforting legacy. And he was never as enthusiastic about the Steelers (a minor sport) as he was about the Penguins after you encouraged him to take an interest. It is good to know that people think of him with affection and respect.