Radford Sallee

GREGORY SALLEE I think this was in Florida? We went almost every summer for a decade or more. Something was funny. Rad laughed a lot, found humor in almost everything.

GREGORY SALLEE This is a rather awful picture, as pictures go, but it brings a lot of memories - Rad, Charlie and Rad Sr. watching college football bowl games several hours a day, every day, all Christmas long. That isn't quite true, but it sure seemed like it. They loved it and looked forward to it.

GREGORY SALLEE Somewhere in the Hill Country, I came to visit. We walked & hiked around, as we always did when Rad was around. I don't remember the day specifically, but I'm sure there was BBQ and beer involved later.

GREGORY SALLEE Somewhere in the Carolina's, hiking towards a waterfall. This is (I have photo evidence) right after we saw a sign describing how dangerous it could be, ending with the line "People have died here". Of course we decided to check it out immediately.

GREGORY SALLEE One of our trips to Texas, I think we were at Guero's? Maybe helping Mary prepare to move to Switzerland?

GREGORY SALLEE Mary and I met up in Switzerland after I spent some time working in Ireland. Rad and Lucille joined as well. We spent several days travelling around, this picture taken while we were on Lake Como in Italy. I don't recall if Mary was showing pictures she'd taken or if Rad was helping out with the camera. He loved to travel and was always fun to travel with. Always up for an adventure, always having a good time, and even able to laugh when things weren't so fun (circumstantial things like unexpected rain, or a closed restaurant).

Mary Sallee Preston In 2012, my then-fiancé, George, and I were living in Singapore and came to the US to spend Christmas with my dad's side of the family. We flew into Houston and then made the road trip to Tennessee, stopping for an evening in New Orleans along the way. It's a trip I've made many a time with my dad. We would meet the family in Kentucky, Tenessee, or somewhere along the gulf around the area of Pensacola for a beach vacation. Once or twice the whole family met up in NOLA. Most trips were made when I was a child, or at least when I was too young to enjoy any of the nightlife beyond walking through the French Quarter. (Although, there was that one time my cousin Rachel and I were allowed to squeeze, as young children, onto the floor at the front of Preservation Hall.) This time was different. Regardless of your opinion of the "known" bars and restaurants of the French Quarter, it was a special night for me to share a glass of champagne at the upstairs bar of Galatoire's with my dad and fiancé together, followed by, what turned out to be, a pretty good dinner. As a kid, I used to squish my face up against the windowpane, near a gap in the curtain, just to get a glimpse of that black and white tile floor and imagine what it might be like to eat somewhere "fancy". It was a good trip, and the best part about it was the obvious joy it brought him to share his love for this city with us.

Mina and Edward Preston We, that is my husband Edward and I, first met Radford seven years ago, when he came to the UK and stayed with us and attended a family celebration. It was that same year, in the autumn, that his daughter Mary married our eldest son George. We didn't have a chance to know Rad well but we found him a warm and generous-spirited. When he stayed, he brought us thoughtful gifts too. I still have a clear image of him in my mind of him sitting at the end of our garden in blazing sunshine, spending a convivial morning, hulling a mound of strawberries with a friend of ours, ready for the impending guests. I visited him again last October in Houston, when I went to see him with Mary. Although his illness had set in, it was lovely to spend time with him and see the love between him and Mary and the very close bond they had. I thought that I would attach the warm-hearted letter that he wrote to us after his stay, because it best describes the enjoyable few days that we had with him. Love from Edward and Mina

Mary Sallee Preston Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Austin, TX, USA Though I am sad that Dad won't get to know our son Henry and see him grow up, I am grateful to have good memories from special days like these, as well as everyday events. It's fun to remember him breaking the tension of any situation where the spotlight might be on him (a simple photo or walking down the aisle) with a joke. Who knows what was being said at that particular moment - maybe nothing at all - but it makes me giggle just thinking about it.

Sara Beckmann When I think of Rad, I hear Ella Fitzgerald in the background while tasting the slight brine of a martini and debating through the news of the day with friends. He was such a classy gentleman! Oh so handsome! There may be a few filled-in perception and memory gaps, but here's how I remember Rad. It helps that his personality shone through in how he raised Mary, my college roommate, and in the beautiful woman she became. He'd splurge on the good stuff, then be overly reasonable and rational with finances otherwise. He enjoyed his nice steak dinners at Houston's (again, with that martini!) and dry clean only clothes. He'd also care for things meticulously to extend their life and get the larger-than-needed-for-one coffee machine because it was a good deal. He was either risk averse or just plain brilliant while raising a daughter alone, keeping her out of trouble by surfacing where things could go south and how to best think through a plan forward. This led to stark differences in my experiences, depending on whether Mary was with me or not. There were the times without Mary where my car was broken into to steal my purse that I left out in the open. And then there were the times both of us kept our necks intact by staying indoors for three days straight during an ice storm, as Mary made sure I knew it was only the idiots who ended up on the news after venturing out on their balconies to slip and break their necks! The cautiousness, of course, was all balanced with a zest for life. Mary was able to use the logical thinking he imparted to balance risk with reward, ultimately living all over the world, and bringing Rad along to experience Europe for the first time just a few handful of years ago. And Rad would experience different cultures at home in Houston while dancing up a storm. The thought process he imparted also led to high quality, vigorous debate, which has now served Mary quite well in her marriage with a cheeky Brit. :) He was a great writer, and instilled a passion for it in Mary who despite starting down a Math major, was pulled towards Communications instead. There we were, freshmen in our dorm, seated on the floor in front of our mini fridge, writing out magnetic poetry together. Now, as his grandson turns one this weekend, Rad is remembered and he is cherished. Just as Rad raised his daughter, she will raise her son, passing on all of these precious tendencies, allowing him to live on. Rad, you are missed, dearly. Forever in our memory.

George Preston

George Preston I loved receiving emails from Rad, particularly personal ones - it was a reminder of what great writing really felt like to read. His talent for writing extended into photography, and in a way, he always seemed to be documenting his extensive travels, collecting thousands of photographs over many years. Living in Texas now, I am often reminded of his musings and advice about scenery, plants, trees and the other beauty around us.

Rachel Sallee

George Preston This is the letter mentioned in Mina and Edward's post

Nancy Clark Rad was always such a gentleman, kind and gracious. I learned, however, that when the situation warranted he could bring forth loud and colorful language. His time as a Marine probably contributed to that. Rad taught me to play chess and never gloated when he won the game. Every game. Because of him I learned to dance the tango when I accompanied him to his weekly class. Joan, the instructor, often remarked that Rad could teach the class. He was the man of many talents who enjoyed his life and the people in it. I'm grateful that I was able to call him my friend. I miss him.