Not quite sure what to write here.
I was very close to Chad. So much so both me and my wife, Michelle consider Chad and his wife, Jennie part of our family. They both felt the same.
We were introduced a few years ago via ebay of all places. He wanted to buy a cue from me and it took off from there....and I mean took off. A few weeks after emailing Chad back and forth, he sent me a cue as a present, a $1000 Jerry Olivier. He sent it because he believed in me (as a true friend). I was so taken back by the gesture. Chad was like that, he always saw the good in people, ask anyone around him. We routinely sent each other cues worth thousands of dollars each over the years, just for the sake of it. No money ever exchanging hands. It was always OUR collection together.
Most of you know I live in the UK. On three seperate occasions I put off coming to the U.S. to visit him because of work committments. Now look where we are......we never met face to face.....and yet it was like I had known him all my life. Chad had that effect on people. Warm, considerate to the point he would always put himself out to help others, a loving husband, a hard worker....I could go on.
Remember this, family is the most important element in a persons life, please cherish this short time you have together. Everything else pales into insignificance. Chad and me had a closeness only found within the family circle, we could talk about any subject matter. He was a religious man, I am not. We spent hours on the phone talking about that subject.
Chad, I loved you like a brother. My dear friend, I will miss you more than you will ever know. I hope you have peace and maybe one day, if you are right, we will indeed meet and shoot that game of 9 Ball we were supposed to have.
Simon D'Vali
England