I'm not a fan of newspaper obituaries but I was stopped in my tracks by one last week. While looking for the daily crossword puzzle, I spotted a photo of a friend and former colleague on the obituary page.
Gary Lakusta was my Area Manager at TELUS in the late 90's, though I certainly noticed him before that. He was the very picture of a "sharped dressed man"; custom tailored suits, immaculate shirts and ties, polished shoes; the whole gamut. His professional appearance went beyond the surface. I rarely saw him without a smile, a listening ear and a handshake at the ready.
Like many of my coworkers, I initially thought Gary was too good to be true. Nobody was that good looking, that well groomed and happy to boot. Over time it became apparent we were wrong.
A position opened in Gary's area. The job looked very interesting so I applied for it and he took me on. Within a few days I realized Gary was as genuine as they come. He really was the consummate professional. What I couldn't see initially was his hidden inner wackiness.
We were making a formal presentation to the TELUS Executive Board when a Senior VP questioned one of the steps in our proposal. "Well sir," replied Gary "that particular step shouldn't impact the provision of services. It's implementation, though necessary, is a mute point."
Everyone in the room immediately stared at him. Gary noticed but within seconds he pressed on. The remainder of the meeting while eventually successful, was uneventful.
As we entered the elevator Gary asked, "Why was everyone staring at me? Did I have something in my teeth? What the hell was that about?"
"You said a certain point was 'mute' and the correct word is 'moot'. It just surprised everyone."
Gary stared at me and exclaimed, "MOOT? What the hell is a moot? C'mon! That's not a word! Is it?"
I burst out laughing and Gary laughed too, yet he remaind confused until I explained the difference between the two words.
Gary repeated that story to just about anyone who'd listen for years afterwards because though it happened to him, he found it hilarious. That's the kind of man Gary was and that's why I admired him. He lived every moment to its fullest, even embarrassing moments at his own expense.
I've not met a lot of others with that quality. Gary Lakusta was the real deal.
