The Real World, by Mike Gold
In an environment where we debate the finer techniques of villains who travel the galaxy to gobble up planets for lunch, the awesome realities of day-to-day life have a habit of intruding upon our vocations and hobbies. Sometimes, the intrusion of reality shatters us completely.
Last Thursday night, 20 year-old Robbie Greenberger lost his struggle with leukemia, surrounded by his family. That’s a real-world horror of incalculable proportion; as we all know – yet, from time to time, must ignore – that sort of thing happens somewhere to somebody every minute of the day. And there’s no villain afoot to acknowledge our outrage.
Robbie was the son of Robert and Debi Greenberger and brother of Kate. For a long time, Bob was an editor and administrator at DC Comics and at Marvel, and an occasional comics writer. He’s also written a ton of Star Trek novels and stories and is editor of the Famous Monsters of Filmland website. Bob is also part of the ComicMix crew: he’s been involved in behind-the-scenes activities for quite some time (you’ll be seeing the fruits of these labors anon), and he’s contributed nearly 50 articles and columns to our site. He’s a real pro.
I remember when Deb went into labor with Robbie. The father-to-be showed up at DC’s offices, ready for work. I asked him if… well, if he was crazy. No, Bob just wanted something to do while waiting, and he had deadline stuff to clear off. He politely asked if it was okay if he were to leave early to join his wife at the hospital.
Unfortunately, I also remember working with Bob on Thursday. I knew the family was at the hospital with Robbie 24/7, doing what they could, giving Robbie comfort. Through Wi-Fi and cell phone, Bob was able to keep busy and meet his deadlines. There’s a strength there that would put a super-hero to shame.
I don’t know how Bob, Debi and Kate will be able to deal with this. There’s a saying that a parent losing his or her child is life’s greatest tragedy; by definition, you really can’t compare. Life has no “11” on the dial; we all max out at “10.”
But the Greenberger family is not alone, not by any stretch of the imagination. Our love and our support will always be with them.
Contributions in Robbie’s memory may be made to The Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer, Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, 20 York Street, New Haven, CT 06511-3202.
Mike Gold is editor-in-chief of ComicMix, and is proud to have shared many a credits box with Bob Greenberger.
The grace under fire that the Greengereger family displayed is super-human indeed.My heart goes out to them and Bill and I continue to offer up prayers for them.
My prayers go out to Bob, Debi, and Kate. I wish I had the perfect quote to cite, or the perfect words to say. Ultimately, they will face hard times ahead, and I hope and pray that they will find strength in each other. I am sure Robbie was loved, and I know he was taken too soon. I can only hope that in whatever comes next for him, he is given peace.
I believe the saying goes, "There's nothing more tragic than a father outliving his son." I've never met Bob Greenberger, Mike, although I've read his articles here and in the book on Giordano. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss.
Mike,When I, in response to John Ostrander's column, mentioned the loss of my daughter, you replied with a comment minimizing my loss by comparing it with the losses of all the American sons and daughters in Irac – as if the loss of the one didn't matter compared to the loss of so many.While I sincerely feel for Bob Greenberger and his family (I really do), I'm surprised at the change in your attitude regarding the death of Robbie Greenberger.Perhaps this is because the Greenberger's are your friends, but it certaintly does not excuse the salt-in-the-wound you gave me.You appear to me to be a hypocryte – and more than a bit heartless.My prayers go to the Greengergers.
Dave –The response of mine you're referring to wasn't a direct response to your comment; if you check, it was a response to John's comment. It was not my intent to minimize your loss in the least. We cannot compare atrocities. The loss of many is no "worse" than the loss of one. It's easier to quantify: one hundred seems worse than one, but — I hope I can get this across — one is one hundred different, individual "ones." The point of my response to John was, and remains, that the deaths of our children and other people's children in Iraq was avoidable.I don't know the circumstances of your daughter's death, but it did sadden my when I read your comment initially and it saddens me now. I'm of that age now when the passing of anybody of the generation which follows mine hits me hard.You're right: I don't know you personally (at least, I don't think so) and of course the death of somebody I knew would hit me harder. But the point I was making was not intended to minimize your loss, and I regret and am saddened that it came across in a way that you saw as rubbing salt in your wound.
Thank you Mike. You didn't have to write this very kind response, yet you did.You are a true gentleman.Dave Rose (By the way, how do I add "Rose" to "Dave" on these messages?)
Something to do with the way you initially registered with us. I might be able to fix it — and I certainly can forward it to someone here at ComicMix who actually knows how all these tubes fit together — but I'll need your email address. Contact us through the (wait for it) "contact us" button at the bottom of the page.
Doh! I can't believe I didn't think of the "contact us" link. Would you belieeeve I just didn't notice it? How about I was looking the other way? Perhaps I had my eyes closed? (I recently got my complete Get Smart set.) LOLI've sent a messgae via the link.Thanks,Dave