Many members of the PokerRoad family returned recently from the East Coast, after attending the memorial service for our lost friend and co-worker Justin Shronk.  With their return they brought back a letter from Shronk's Mother, wish she asked us to share with the many friends and fans of Justin's, that recently made themselves so known through their huge and welcome outpouring of support during this difficult time. 

The letter in its entirety has been reprinted below:

An Open Letter of Thanks to the Poker Community,

"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children, one is roots, the other is wings."  ?-Hodding Carter Jr.

This is the saying that's been hanging on my refrigerator for a number of years, as like every parent, I tried to find some words to guide me in raising my children.  When Justin was ready to spread his wings and take flight he flew far away from our home outside of Philadelphia, PA to Las Vegas. I, of course, wanted to encourage him to stay close, but I also wanted to give him his wings.  Justin struggled with living in Vegas, he hates hot weather, he's terrible at managing money, he wasn't much about the glitzy touristy parts of Vegas (except the fountains at the Bellagio).  So many times I had to fight the urge to tell him to come home because I knew he would be miserable here doing some type of job that he hated just to be able to pay the bills.

Owen said it best... 
"It's a world for the kinds of creative people who spent their teenage years feeling out of place and it's a haven. It's a welcoming environment in which individualism is encouraged and friendships are forged in hotel rooms and casino bars the world over.... It's a place where people like Shronk thrive."
-http://onthatgonzotip.livejournal.com/48100.html

I came across the above quote while reading Dr. Pauly's blog about Justin and I'm not sure who Owen is, but it really epitomized why a kid like Justin was happiest working with the people in the poker media world. The day after he passed away, I got calls from friends, relatives and co-workers telling me that they googled his name and couldn't believe what they saw.  I have, over the past week, read and continue to read blogs, articles and postings.  I'm totally overwhelmed and blown away by the fact that there were so many people who appreciated his intelligence, wit, warmth, and excessive enthusiasm.  I'm grateful that he landed in a community of people that actually "got" him.  There are no words I can come up with to express my gratitude to all of you who wrote kind words and funny stories about Justin.  I alternate between crying and laughing through my tears at everything I read.  All of the words and all of the images have been a comfort over the past week to our family, especially his sister, Bill, and myself.  Thank you all for wrapping your arms around Justin and sharing your memories of him with us.  We will miss him so much.

Also, thanks to the members of the PokerRoad Forums for the beautiful white flower wreath that they sent to the funeral home.

Much love,

Kim and Courtney Shronk and Bill Janoski

"We can't know why the lily has so brief a time to bloom in the warmth of sunlight's kiss upon it's face
Before it folds its fragrance in and bids the world good-night to rest its beauty in a gentler place.
But we can know that nothing that is loved is ever lost, and no one who has ever touched a heart can really pass away,
Because some beauty lingers in each memory of which they've been a part."
-Ellen Breneman