Karl came to Holy Ghost school in Wood Dale in the second grade.  His family moved into our neighborhood and we quickly became great friends.    Throughout elementary school Karl was a leader.  He we won the talent shows playing the accordion at a level that surpassed everyone else’s musical abilities.  Karl played center position on our class basketball team.  He wore kneepads with the word “Duke” lettered on each.  So we called him “Duke.”   Then we all lettered different names on our kneepads.    When the ‘twist’ became popular he had the best dance moves.  Later in life he went on to become a dance instructor.      Around 7th grade Karl started drum lessons and he went on to be the first drummer for the band “The Proper Strangers.”   We ran in different circles in high school, but at our 40th  class reunion he and I had the opportunity to revisit our past.  Karl was every bit the friend I knew decades earlier.    The proper Strangers played at that reunion.  Karl had left the band a long time ago but they asked him to sit in for a set.  I know it meant a lot to him.