I was at the Mansion early Friday evening to call the weekly Bingo game with Maria, I bought sacks of nice Fall sweaters and T-shirts, which the residents gobbled up.

They know it will be chilly soon.

Walking to the office to say goodnight, I spotted the late afternoon sun shining on a portrait sitting in the Great Room. I saw it was the portrait of Red painted by Sue Silverstein, Red’s friend, my friend, and the art teacher at Bishop Maginn High School.

The aides told me the residents come by one by one, all during the day to look at the photo and say goodbye to Red.

Sue Silverstein loved Red very much, and titled this painting “Angel Dog.” I was moved to see it here. Two of them were standing and looking at it when I saw the light.

“We miss you, Red,” said Carol. “You were so sweet…” Helen followed her, leaning forward to kiss the portrait.

It is difficult for me to convey what Red meant to the residents and staff at the Mansion. He lifted so many spirits, comforted the sick and the frightened, touched their memories of dogs and cats and horses that they once loved and lived with.

Red meant warmth, love, and memory. The residents often tell me they never truly grasped the meaning of dogs and cats until they could no longer live with them.

Thanks, Sue, for painting this portrait of Red, he continues to bring comfort to so many people.