Dear Rory: I am so sad to learn of Robert's passing. Below is the tribute I posted here at the District this morning. May God's tender mercies surround you and your family. Robert's love for you all was something to admire. Sincerely Yours, Becky Moser It is with genuine sadness that I announce the passing of our former teammate Robert LaManque. Robert served with the Corps from November 1989 through September 2012. In that time, he volunteered for nearly every USACE humanitarian effort for two decades. His willingness to serve others helped to solidify the Corps’ reputation of providing exceptional support to friend and allies in times of need. I met Robert about two days after my arrival here. I was quickly assigned to assist him with the Egyptian Equipment Procurement Team. I become his trusty sidekick, becoming more aggressively involved as his health declined. Though he was sometimes stubborn and frustrating, his gratitude for my help was always genuine. Robert was an exceptionally kind man who always had the time and energy to care about his colleagues. A legendary storyteller, he was quick with a joke and always had a sympathetic ear to listen or a shoulder to lend. One day, after a particularly awful and endless PDT meeting, I was upset about the friction amongst our team. When I returned from lunch I found the following on my desk. It was and is Mr. LaManque in a nutshell. Simple, human kindness. “People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway. What you spend years building someone can destroy overnight. Build anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Giver your best anyway. For you see, in the end it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” – Mother Teresa The world has grown a bit less gentle and accepting with his passing. In honor of Mr. LaManque, I invite you to join me this week to make a real effort to “do it anyway.” Forgive, be kind, succeed, build, be honest, be happy, do good, give your best – for yourself and for Robert. Sincerely, Rebecca Moser