It's very difficult to lose a friend to a tragic death. Robert meant a lot to me, he always helped out with any event I came up with. The funny thing is, he didn't really care for dogs. It's not that he hated them, he just wasn't a pet person and he was probably a bit puzzled by my love for my dogs and my fanatical dog customers. Despite all this, he still enjoyed the puppy shower we had last summer, he showed up at the dog wedding (he tried to claim he wasn't watching, but I caught him laughing and watching the whole thing), he even let me hold the first dog fashion show at Creole. I think his favorite event was dog trick-or-treating, he loved telling the story of the first trick-or-treating in 2005 when he ran out of dog treats as a whole wave of dogs descended upon his gallery. Robert may no longer be with us in a physical sense, but his spirit is forever in Old Town. Robert at my ribbon cutting ceremony in 2005, he always supported fellow business owners I think his friend Suellen summed it up best in how you can honor our friend Robert's memory: To celebrate and honor Robert why not consider: Provide free or low-cost studio space to artists. Support Lansing artists. Buy art in Lansing made by Lansing artists. Go on vacations wherever you want, but buy your art in Lansing. Go to First Sunday Gallery Walks. Go to opening receptions for artists. Talk to artists at the opening receptions. Go to theatre in Old Town. Go to musical events in Old Town. Go to meetings in Old Town. Go to weddings in Old Town. Go to Old Town. Shop in Old Town. Visit Old Town. Embrace Old Town. Hire those who chose to set up shop and provide services in Old Town. Eat in Old Town. Overeat in Old Town. Help entrepreneurs who want to open a business in Old Town. Don’t let any business or residence space in Old Town be fallow or unoccupied. Support the Creole Gallery. Attend festivals in Old Town. Volunteer in Old Town. Open Tate’s Freeze again. Produce and sell a Robert Busby Fund-Raiser Calendar – photos of Robert. Produce and sell a Robert Busby Fund-Raiser Art Calendar – photos of Robert’s paintings. Produce and sell a Robert Busby Fund-Raiser Art Calendar called “Billy”- photos of Robert’s constructions. Ask Mayor Bernero to implement Robert’s Art committee’s recommendations. Ask Mayor Bernero to designate a “point” person in the administration to coordinate Art in Lansing. Visit every store in Old Town and thank the owner for being in Old Town