Generosity Encompassed His Life by Terri Rimmer - originally published by Associated Content, 2009

Jack Tubbs, 57, of Fort Worth, Texas was remembered with fond stories at a memorial service March 23 after passing away last week from cancer.

I met Jack back in 1998 when he started coming to recovery meetings in town with his then life partner, Carlton, who died a few years ago. Jack helped many people and though some took advantage of him, he "wouldn't have it any other way if it meant someone benefited from his help" stated one friend at his service. Jack was spiritual and had 15 years sober in Alcoholics Anonymous, always making himself available for newcomers and before he died he shared with a friend that he wished he could have helped everyone who he tried to.

I knew Jack before my ex-boyfriend was his roommate for several years. Jack and I would often talk about recovery, spirituality, relationships, friendships, and relapses. He had a great compassion for others and could share with you on a deep level rather than just a superficial one, always trying to see the good in people. He was also good with kids, taking the time to discipline and guide his roommate's kids when they would visit. Jack loved gardening and he could make a beautiful yard. He took patient time with his creations and would take pride in his completed work.

When his life partner, Carlton passed away, also from cancer, it hit Jack hard, of course. They had been together many years and Carlton, like many of us, had to go through the grief process. He stayed sober and strong and used his pain to help others. In the process, numerous times he helped himself. Jack had a way about him when it came to discussing other people. If you said someone told you something and Jack knew it was a lie he just wouldn't comment. In his way he was telling you that this piece of information was nonsense. It was a clever way of telling you the truth without bad-mouthing someone. Jack let you draw your own conclusions from his silence, said a friend of mine.

I also knew Jack to be a calm, centered person who was laid back and accepted people as they were, being very patient with everyone he came in contact with. He had a good sense of a person's character and he had a big heart, helping many people along the way.

The minister who officiated at Jack's memorial service said that though he never met Jack, just spending time with his family and friends the past few days that he learned Jack had an amazing life. Beautiful music was played at the service and several friends got up at the podium paying tribute to the man they knew as Jack T. Numerous pictures were on display from childhood on through Jack's adult career as a machinist.

Ironically though he took care of his terminally ill friend for many years who also had cancer, it was Jack who in the end was waging a private battle with the disease on his own for the last two years. He didn't want to burden anyone but finally he had no choice but to go to the hospital. Not long after being admitted, Jack passed away.

Before he died he told a sponsor of his that he was the best friend he ever had.

Jack requested that should friends desire, memorials may be given to Cancer Care Services.

The website is cancercareservices.org.

Leah Siegel of Dallas, married mother of three, is also battling cancer. (Source: CBS 11 TV).

Siegel discovered she had breast cancer that has spread to her bones in Aug. 2008, after delivering her third child.

"Five days after the delivery, doctors finally determined through a bone marrow biopsy that the 42-year-old had an aggressive form of estrogen-fueled breast cancer that had spread to her bones," said reporter Karen Borta. "It's called lobular carcinoma."

To read more of Siegel's story, visit http://cbs11tv.com/health/leah.siegel.cancer.2.960814.html.