Thoughts from Brian Wennerlind

Upon hearing the sad, sad news of last week, I just wanted to pass on my condolences and a few thoughts about your father.

Though I feel great sadness at his passing, that must be tempered against the pure joy I feel just to have known him. Dr. Saunders was a truly wonderful man and I feel so blessed and lucky to have had his influence in my life. His love for life and for all those around him was positively infectious. I'm quite proud to say it infected me. I always envied the way he doted on his boys, and more than once wished I were one of them. When I think back about him now, what comes flooding to me is joy. Pure joy. The joy and thoughtfulness that he lived daily is something I will always try to emulate. I dearly hope it's something I can instill into my children the way he helped instill it into me.

I can't imagine anyone leading a more incredible, fulfilled life with such an amazing, caring, accomplished family who, quite understandably, never strayed very far from him.

I know that my life and this world are much much better places for his being in them. I'm made aware every day of his memory when I bellow nicknames at my own kids, bike to and from work, laugh enthusiastically over a well-told joke or the ironies of life, or simply smile and gaze on at the ones I love, as I observed him doing so often. He never will stop being a big part of our lives.

Know that my thoughts are with all of you,
--Winnie