Duke was the second puppy in his litter, born and inseparable companion to the first puppy, Geoffrey. The two never spent ten minutes apart the last ten years, the perfect team, complementing each other in every way. Geoffrey was the energy, the spark, and Duke was the rock, calm, protective, intelligent, regal, and understanding. Through family tragedies, children leaving and moving home and leaving again, they brought thousands of days and nights of joy, companionship, and comfort. As is the case all too often, cancer struck Duke quickly and without mercy, robbing us of the best of the best. Even through our tears, he tried to reassure us, calm us, tell us it would be alright. I wish I was as good a person as Duke always believed I was. The same hands that carried him home held him on his way out, and we journeyed with him in dignity, love, and peace and saw him on his way. Duke will never be replaced, and he will never be forgotten.