It was back in 1982 when I decided to try newswriting class, which basically meant joining the staff of The Bulldog, Kaimuki High School's student newspaper. I didn't know diddley. But we had a strict teacher in Mr. (Barry) Masuo and this interesting energy among ourselves. I was around other kids who were passionate and funny. I was finally in my realm, at least a little bit.

One day, we were visited -- a surprise visit -- by the famous Star-Bulletin editorial cartoonist Corky Trinidad. It was a BIG deal. Here was a guy whose work I'd read for all my life. I mean, I delivered the Star-Bulletin to 63 customers daily and 103 customers in Mo'ili'ili on Sundays for all of my eighth-grade year. Corky made an impact on my view of the world. His stuff was sometimes hilarious, always honest and definitely clear. Didn't hurt that I always agreed with his statement.

He stayed there in class with us, not some hulking, instructing Type A kind of general. Instead, he was thoughtful, asked us a lot of questions and generally smiled the whole time. Maybe he was amused to find such a high degree of silly dorkage at a mid-sized public school on Oahu. But he connected with us. That was so long ago, and I can remember it like yesterday.

Corky died early this morning at 69. He'd been on leave for awhile so I suspected maybe he was not well, but I never asked much when I saw his wife and son (Lorenzo) at the office. They maintained a positive attitude through his health issue, much like Corky would have.

I have to ask (God, I suppose), why are so many of our best people leaving in their prime? In the past two years, I've lost count of the men who have made a difference in young people's lives, mostly coaches, and I have to know why so many, so soon? Maybe I should just accept life's timing. After all, nothing is promised to us, not 50 years, not 5 minutes. It's all just a gift.

But it still hurts, even when it's someone I barely knew. I hope Corky's spirit lives on with the rest of us. He'll be busy, I suppose, painting from a different vantage point now, but still with us at heart. I hope his family endures through the pain of their loss. It's always tough. Every day, I think about my mom, and even the funny memories bring tears to me at unexpected times. Bittersweet, I guess. You can't have the joy without missing it when it's gone.

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