Two Sundays ago was like any other Sunday over the past year of COVID: at home, doing laundry, cleaning, taking care of kids and getting ready for another week.

When I checked my work phone that afternoon there was a voicemail from a strange number, which turned out to be from Cecelia Merchant, wife of longtime Press photographer Rob Merchant.

Rob was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last fall. He informed me in a text message back in November of last year, and said he needed to take a few months off from photography.

Last I heard from Rob, which was earlier this year, he was doing well, positive as always, and even hinted at a return to photography this summer. Since I have been working at home, he wanted my home address to send me a Christmas card, even though it was after the holidays at this point.

I was always happy to get an update from him. So upon returning the call to Cecelia, it didn’t even dawn on me the news I was about to hear.

Rob passed away with family at his side the day before, Feb. 27.

I felt a wide range of emotion, but first I felt terrible for being so unassuming. Rob’s attitude toward his situation even left me feeling upbeat. Then of course, I just felt sad.

During these days of modern technology, it’s not often I see the people who work for me. Most of our business is done over email and text - and this was the case even before COVID. But, it’s something that really hits home during times like this, and when you get this kind of news.

Despite that, I feel like I still know my writers and photographers through the digital communications we share, which a lot of times aren’t just work-related. This was true for Rob as well. I liked that his emails always had a signature that read “All the Best!” at the end.

One thing I quickly learned about Rob over the years was he was a family man. His wife, kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren were probably the most important things to him. It was also evident on his Facebook page, where he just celebrated an anniversary and a birthday, sharing birthday photos of past years that included those who loved him most. Judging by the photos, Rob was loved a lot, and by a lot of people.

Rob also loved photography, and was very good at it - as was evident to anyone who opened the sports sections of the Press for the last many years.

But, family came first.

Still, Rob could usually be counted on to take an assignment. A lot of times I’d just pencil him in before he even responded to my email list of games. It seemed like the only time he declined assignments was family events and parties. I’d usually get an email with a line through the assignment, adding “Sorry, we have a birthday party that night” or, “Sorry, we are going camping this weekend.”

This is something I felt like we bonded over, family. He never met my kids but from time-to-time would ask about them.

One of the handful of times I saw Rob face-to-face was back in 2012. While shooting a football game, Rob was involved in an incident on the sideline that ended with him leaving the stadium with a broken leg. Needless to say, I felt totally responsible for this and I went to visit him in the hospital.

Even after that incident, Rob immediately talked about when he anticipated returning to the sidelines to photograph sports for the Press again.

Freelance writing and photography isn’t a get-rich career. But, one thing everyone I come across seems to possess is their love for sharing their talents with you, the readers.

Rob was no different. No matter what brought Rob down, he was always ready to come back.

If I could email or text him one more thing, I only wish I could tell him thanks - thanks for his help in making my job easier, thanks for making the sports section better, thanks for his dedication and commitment, thanks for his friendship ... and of course, “All the Best!”

(You can read more about Rob on page A4)