A Simple Tribute To My Wonderful Friend Walter A. Verbanic

Post date: Mar 4, 2012 8:04:51 PM

Walter A. Verbanic

VERBANIC, Walter Albert 65, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family Friday, February 17, 2012 in Kansas City, MO. Walt's wishes were to be cremated. Walt was born December 18, 1946 in Kansas City, KS to John Thomas and Helen Marie (Fabina) Verbanic. He attended The New School in New York for his undergraduate studies and completed his Masters at the University of Kansas. He moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and began a successful career in advertising, managing the Toyota, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen accounts for various agencies. Walt's passion for world travel never faded, he toured from Tibet to the Fiji islands, and almost everywhere in between. By all measures, Walt lived a full life; he not only served as a wise mentor, kind friend, but also a loving parent and brother. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Lauren; son, Christopher; brothers, John, James, and Randy; and sister, Loretta Verbanic; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements: Skradski Funeral Home, Kansas City, KS

He was hosting my 23^rd birthday party (Attire by Salvation Army)

When he tied the knot for the last time in Las Vegas

Was it me he came to visit in Las Vegas, or was it the hammock?

Wonderful Walter, Lady Lauren and Chris who will always be Vinco to me

Most of you have met or heard me mention my wonderful friend Walter Verbanic. Our 48 ½+ year relationship ended when he passed away a few weeks ago from pancreatic cancer. It all happened so quickly and thankfully his children we able to spend a few of his remaining hours with him.

As for myself, I was quite fortunate in that over the past year and a half, he visited me several times here in Las Vegas for a week or two at a time. It afforded us time to go down “memory lane” and most of all, share in the good and bad experiences in our lives, as we had always done over the years. There was almost nothing either one of us wouldn’t confide in the other with. We had a bond and a trust that is rare amongst friends or even couples married for many years. We had our differences and at times had to walk away and give the other the space he needed. However, we each had our spies out there to make sure the other was okay. If there was a true crisis, we were there faster than Mighty Mouse to save the day.

We mentored and tutored one another. It was not about one of us being the best, but both of us being the best and sharing and helping each other get there. You always knew that there was someone to cover your back. We were great "schemers" and "plotters". We reveled in giving the world something they had never experienced, whether they wanted it or not. Walter had this saying when he pouted because I wasn't on the same page with him involving any facet of our relationship. He would say "Everyone in the world is an asshole except you and I John Michael/Ralph/Rocko. And sometimes, I wonder about you." We would then both laugh, give each other a hug and move on to our next devious endeavor.

Having Walter as a friend, brother, confidant, partner in crime, psychiatrist or almost anything one would need from anyone was great. He instilled great confidence in me and never let me succumb to the naysayers that I wasn’t good enough, smart enough or capable enough. When he saw me doubting myself, he would always remind me of where I came from and how hard I worked to not only make myself a better professional, but a better person. He would always say, "be proud of yourself brother, very few have had the guts, drive and determination to accomplish all that you have in your life. Most of them are just jealous of you John Michael/Ralph/Rocko." From New York to Beverly Hills, we walked through doors, proud as peacocks, that most only dream about. While gloating egotistically about our then location and experience, he would recall all of the encouragement and abetting his mother had given us in our earlier days. We would laugh and smile as he often said, "If Helen could see us now."

We shared almost everything we had, not just the materialistic things in life. Walter shared the most important thing in his life with me, his family. For me it was like winning the power ball lottery and waking up to discover my dream was a reality. His parents, Helen and John, his siblings, John Boy, James, Randy and Loretta, took this half- starved puppy in and have continued fattening him up for all these years. They accepted me for just myself and have always encouraged me to be just myself. Though I was not blood, I always have felt like I was. Even when Walter and I may have been involved in one of our "trial separations", I have always been welcomed into their homes or lives with open arms and great warmth. Don't know if they all realize how important they have been to me throughout my life.

Another great compliment and gift he gave me was sharing his children, Lauren and Chris (who will always be Vinco to me). Most probably discouraged him from allowing this Crazy Croatian to be around his kids and risk the bad influences I may have on them. I would get the usual instruction, "go easy on them" in the earlier years and later, as any good parent, when he thought they were ready and prepared, he let them fend for themselves. Was always great to see him, out of the corner of my eye, shaking his head and smiling at our interactions. They had to put up with a lot of the "memory lane" stuff, but Walter always said, "I hope they have half of the good things,as we've shared over the years, to bore their kids with." Hopefully one day I can go down "memory lane" with them.

Someone at his memorial mentioned that I may feel like I have a big hole missing inside of me. It is not a hole, it is more like a crater. Another asked questions about finding closure. The physical Walter I can no longer participate with is perhaps that crater and there isn't a damn thing any of us can do about that. As for closure, I don't think I will ever have it, nor do I want it. There is so much of Walter engrained inside of, not only me and those he shared with, that he will continue to live and be a wonderful and great influence into the future. Even when I am gone, he will live on.

Thank you brother for everything and I look forward to us doing it all again, somewhere down the road.

Love ya,

John Michael/Ralph/Rocko

P.S. As we both practiced and preached, when you receive or are granted something good in this life, take a portion of it and pass it on to another and have them do the same. That way there will always be some good for all to look forward to.