Subject: Condolences
From: "Andrew Herscowitz" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Theresa Marie Howald Herscowitz" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 31 May 2015 17:19:39 +0200

Hunter, please forgive the informal nature of this note.  I wanted to let
you know how sorry we are about the loss of Beau.  I know that you had
very, very special relationship with him, and that the pain you and your
family are feeling must be immense. You lost not just your brother, but
your best friend and confidante.  I often thought of you guys as a set of
twins given how close you were.

My brother and I are six years apart, and we remain close.  And as we get
older, we seem to get closer despite the fact that we live so far apart.
But you and Beau had the great benefit of being so close to one another for
many, many years and also have the benefit of having such a tight knit
family that will get through this together. I know it won't be easy.

It seems like just yesterday that you and I were talking about the strange
illness that was impacting Beau, which eventually was diagnosed as
Ankylosing Spondylitis and then years later, you giving me advice about it
when Tracy's sister was diagnosed with the same auto-immune disease.

As he struggled through each of his medical setbacks, you and your family
continued to be there for him and for his family.  Regardless of his
spectacular public persona, what is most important is how special he was to
you and your family as a brother, father, husband and son.

As you unfortunately know well, God seems to take the best of the best
early. And it does not seem fair.  Just last week, I unexpectedly lost a
close cousin, who had struggled with breast cancer and who thought she was
in the clear.  She wasn't feeling well, went to the hospital, and died that
evening.  Her chemo gave her leukemia, and nobody had any idea.  Very
tragic.

If there's anything we can do to be supportive, please don't hesitate to
let us know.

I hope we will get a chance to catch up this summer -- maybe you can even
meet our kids and see Tracy for the first time in a long time.  We'll be in
DC for a few weeks in June/July.  Tracy and I will be in DC by ourselves
(kids are headed to camp) from June 24 to July 1.  Maybe we can get dinner.

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Andy and Trac