On my last anniversary my wife and I went to a fancy restaurant in Los Angeles to celebrate. While we were there we struck up a conversation with a nice older couple. They where in from the East Coast to meet their newest grandson. Throughout the night we kept talking about life, family, America, and even though it was turning into a kind of a double date, we didn't mind, as we found them to be exactly what we hope to be when we are their age - fun, kind, and loved by friends and family.
Eventually we started discussing business, and when I mentioned mine was of the show variety, he perked up. He told me he used to write for television and when I asked what shows, he mentioned "Family Ties" and I looked at him and said "Are you Gary David Goldberg?" He seemed surprised that I knew his name even though he created "Family Ties" and "Spin City" and wrote for "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Lou Grant" and "M.A.S.H". I found him to be humble, funny and inspirational.
As he and his beautiful wife Diana got ready to go the airport and head back to NYC a day before Hurricane Sandy, he wished me luck. I naturally assumed he meant with my TV show and I said "Well, hopefully folks like it and we get to do it for a while." He said "shows come and go, they're fun, but it's all about the family. They stick around." After they left I asked the waiter for our bill and he told me that "Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg paid for your dinners." I'll always remember the man who taught me so much in an hour one table over.(And bought me a really nice dinner)

Rest in peace Gary David Goldberg.

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