Last weekend I attended a 70th surprise birthday party for Romulo Montoya.  He worked for Alden O. Sherman Co., Inc. for thirty five years.  It’s been six years since we sold the family owned aerospace manufacturing company and Romulo continues in a position of responsibility for the new owners.

Highly respected by everyone at the company, he has lived his work life by always doing his best.  He’s acted the same way with his family and is admired and loved by the large Montoya clan from siblings to grandchildren.   What a great thing to be so respected, so well-liked!

Life sends tough times to everyone.  Sometimes these times come in waves of challenges and difficulties.  Other times success seems to materialize at every corner and everything is easy. 

During the years I worked with Romulo he kept his personal life private.  He focused on the job at hand, without unreasonably criticizing others.  He always did the best job he could, no matter how long it took, without worrying about any inconvenience to himself.

I think of what little children learn in Sunday School.  They’re advised to be kind to others, to treat them as they would like to be treated.  It’s the golden rule.  It’s a good way to live at work and at home. It’s the way Romulo has worked his whole life.  It showed with the shouts of “Happy Birthday” and in the happy eyes of his family as he drove up the long driveway to his son’s house. 

For a moment in time it was as if we still had the company and it was just another celebration of a valued employee’s birthday.