I'll Always Have a Friend Like You, Robin Williams

Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to bid one final farewell to the friend we’ve always had, Robin Williams.

Robin Williams was a friend we grew up with. He was the crossdressing nanny who fought off burglars and shoved his face into a cake. He was the lovable Genie who could make any and all of your wishes true, while encouraging you to bee yourself and to dream. He was the wild man of the jungle who knew everything about the sudden stampede, the very game of survival itself, and how to avoid a ruthless huntsman. He was someone that we could always turn to for a laugh and could make us smile no matter how sad we were.

Robin Williams committed suicide at the tender age of sixty three in his San Francisco home. He had slit his wrists with a pocket knife and hanged himself with a belt.  It’s a painful image to imagine, our childhood icon tossing himself into Death’s arms, especially after attending rehab to maintain sobriety.  Robin Williams has had a long life of struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol, yet with every struggle he has managed to put his vices aside, and make us laugh.

Robin Williams’ death shed light on another demon he had been battling all his life. This demon is known as depression. While it’s rumored that he also suffered from supposedly being bi polar, it was never confirmed. The depression supposedly began when he was addicted to cocaine in the 80s and it haunted him for many, many years. Even his psychologist stated that he was still suffering from depression when he committed suicide.    

The idea of Williams killing himself due to this mental disorder has caused the Internet to burst with concern for others who many suffer from depression and at times, want to end their lives. On Tumblr, suicide hotlines have been posted like wildfire. Upworthy has posted links about depression and articles relating to it. Because of this tragic death, people are worrying for others, offering them a shoulder to cry on, and an ear to listen to when times are tough.  People are opening themselves to strangers and friends, asking them to spill their soul in hopes that they won’t end their lives and it’s all because of Robin Williams.

Not only has the famous actor touched our hearts, but the hearts of those who had the pleasure to work with him. Dante Basco, aka Rufio from “Hook” wrote a farewell letter to him and hoping that he would see him in Neverland someday. Countless of stars, including Gilbert Gottfried, tweeted their respects for Williams. Even Blizzard, the company that brings us World of Warcraft, is planning to memorialize Robin Williams as an NPC within one of their games.

Peter Pan once told us that we should “never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” We say goodbye to Robin Williams who flew away to Neverland one last time, but I assure you that many others, like myself, will never forget him. May he rest in peace and find humor with God beyond the clouds and in our hearts.