2009

Originally published in ESSAY, December 2009

I remember when I first met Roy, in 1983. He appeared nervous around me, but not nearly as nervous as I felt around him. I expected to find a number of sober women who could tell me how to stay sober. I found only a few women, and none of them had six months of sobriety in our program. In fact, I had the longest sobriety time behind Roy and Jess L.—and I only had one month! Roy always had a rapport with newcomers in the program. Over the years I have come to appreciate more and more this trait that he demonstrated.

I have tremendous respect for Roy because he gave so much of himself. I am so grateful to Roy that he listened to the God of his understanding and carried that message through his writings, his recorded recovery talks, and his personal contact with program members. I would not be alive today without Roy’s written message and his personal example of recovery.

I appreciate Roy’s wife for sharing him with us. Over the years she has been so gracious, understanding, and a faithful companion to Roy. Thanks be to God for Roy K. and to the SA program of recovery.