Todd Colin George

To know Todd was to be part of his wonderful quick wit and humor. From the time he was a little boy he was always smiling and laughing. As an adult his creativity found an outlet in imitations; movie stars, family, friends, and strangers - no one was spared, we all got to see ourselves. During the most stressful situations in the grooming shop he could always say or do something to make everyone laugh. He had the great gift of making the difficult times in life look completely ridiculous and silly.

Todd had a vast knowlege of birds. He could identify a bird from its call, he knew the species, plummage, habits, and migration patterns of birds all over the world. He built countless birdhouses and feeders and would spend hours watching their behavior. He loved pigeons and had coops whenever possible. He enjoyed fancy breeds as well as wild ones. As a teenager he would go to the park with bread and a paper sack to catch pigeons and bring them home on the bus. Once he stopped for lunch on the way home and sat in the booth with the sack scratching and bumping around his feet. His dream was to go to the Amazon and see all the different bird species in the wild.

Todd loved to garden, he spent hours outside planting and helping things to grow. He also loved natural settings and would sit quietly just watching the birds and squirrels go about their business. He had a great appreciation for the balance of nature, and he believed some places should not be interfered with by humans.

Todd loved family and friends deeply. He encouraged growth from everyone, and strove to teach everyone to accept differences in all people. He believed and worked for civil and social equality, and always offered help to anyone trying to better themselves. He was loving and kind and had a huge capacity for forgiveness. He worked very hard to keep his family together, encouraging everyone to remember that life is precious, forget the petty things and just love one another. He had a very old soul for a young man.

Todd woke up each morning and faced the day fresh, he was always busy doing something. As his illness slowly wasted his body, his determination only grew. Maya Angelou wrote, ''I can be changed by what happens to me. I refuse to be reduced by it.'' His spirit and will was so strong that he never gave up, in the end his body simple could not go on. He will be deeply missed, and always with us in love.