Like so many, I was deeply saddened to hear that Christopher Fordham's wonderful smile and kind, gracious demeanor would no longer be here to brighten the lives of all of us who live in Chapel Hill and have shared the pleasure of his company -- in my case, far too infrequently.

I was fortunate to meet Dr. Fordham many years ago through friends and family and saw him only on rare occasions. Rare and brief though they were, he always made them memorable. He was, quite simply, one of the nicest people I ever met.

Awed and impressed as I was by his professional and academic credentials, I can't recall an encounter with him when he didn't make me feel at ease and special in that wonderful way that he could. Nothing disingenuous, phony or pretentious about this man -- when he shook my hand he looked directly at me -- not through me or past me. When he asked about my family or how I was doing, he listened to the answer. He was interested and he was engaged.

One of my fondest memories of Dr. Fordham is seeing him each December when he attended the UNC Radiology Department's holiday party at the Carolina Inn. My band had the pleasure of playing this party for many years and as Dr. Fordham entered the room, accompanied by his lovely wife Barbara, his smile seemed to light up the entire place.

He would greet people warmly as he made his way farther into the ballroom and, through the years, I came to know that one of his favorite songs was the Duke Ellington classic, "Satin Doll." Each year, I would keep an eye out for him and Barbara, and when they finally arrived and made their way close to the bandstand, I would play the familiar piano intro and watch as he smiled that contagious smile of his, acknowledging the song. He stood there, in that moment of recognition, listening, and often clapping his hands to the gentle swinging rhythm of the tune.

That gesture and response from this wonderful man always made my Christmas season special. This past year, I didn't see him at the party. I missed him -- and the annual ritual.

The night before his memorial service, as I stood in the church where people were invited to visit with his family, I gazed at the photos and other memorabilia that had been gathered and placed about the room to share with those who came. There were wonderful pictures of Dr. Fordham, and Barbara, their children, grandchildren, family gatherings -- photos of him with famous athletes and coaches, university dignitaries and many others.

As I moved from photo to photo, memory to memory -- anniversaries, birthdays, honors and awards -- I was treated to some of the highlights of his life -- his greatest hits, if you will. They were abundant. He was a man of medicine, a leader, an academic and scholar and, without a doubt, a family man. It seemed to me a life so well lived by a man who was more than up to the task of living it. Oh, that all of us should bear the trials and tests of our lives with such courage, grace and dignity. He will be sorely missed.