Two reminders to live life to the fullest

None of us knows when our time is up, but the passing of two people in the past week offered me a chance to reflect.
Dr. Michael DeBakey died at 99 after performing thousands of heart surgeries. He was a pioneer in open-heart surgery, including the use of Dacron in those surgeries to bypass damaged arteries. DeBakey continued to work well into his 90s.
Also passing over the weekend was former New York Yankee outfielder and broadcaster Bobby Murcer. His death at 62 came after 17 years as a player and 23 more as a broadcaster.
Both men had full lives and accomplished much, albeit in different fields. DeBakey’s contributions will live on for decades to come. He had an insatiable curiosity about the human heart, even questioning the origin of heart disease.
Murcer’s proudest accomplishments may have come in his final months. He refused to be negative about his brain cancer. He talked about his many blessings, including his family and his life with the Yankees.
I saw Murcer play minor league baseball with the Toledo Mud Hens in the 1960s on a swing through Richmond, and recall his return to the Yankees in 1969.
I was in Washington on opening day that year, and saw Murcer and the Yankees play the Washington Senators on the day Ted Williams started as a major league manager. Murcer homered in an 8-4 Yankees win.
Murcer delivered the eulogy at the funeral of his Yankee teammate, Thurman Munson, and drove in five runs in a Yankee victory the night of Munson’s 1979 funeral.
As I’m sure will be said at their funerals, it’s important to remember how these men lived.
DeBakey was an intrepid pioneer. He accomplished many innovations, saved many lives and furthered medical research.
Murcer was a humble Oklahoman. He was given the task of replacing Mickey Mantle on the Yankees, something no player could ever do. He didn’t replace Mantle, but went on to enjoy a productive and long Major League career.
He reveled in his Yankee surroundings and was kind to players, fans and others. He was a Hall of Fame person in his class behavior.
What is a life? Sometimes that is hard to quantify. There are those defining moments such as graduation, an important job change, accomplishments and family births and deaths.
Michael DeBakey and Bobby Murcer lived their time to the fullest.
The next time I want to grumble about a bill, lousy weather or being tired, I should remember these two people. They soldiered on.
Bob Stuart covers politics and Augusta County for The News Virginian.