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I am blessed to have known Asher Strobel throughout my entire life. He was my brother Isaac’s best friend, and I was able to grow up with him. As Isaac’s best friend, Asher was always over at my house, and really became a part of my family.
But my relationship with Asher blossomed from something totally different, something that, looking back on it, truly speaks volumes of the kind of person Asher really was.
Throughout my childhood, whenever my brother and Asher would get together, I would always be the extra, the one who latched on. As a result, I was actually only close with Asher through my brother’s relationship with him. It was the three of us.
Later in life however, my relationship with Asher changed into one that was independent of Isaac. In high school, there would be times when Asher would drive me to school, and over time and through the basketball team, we began to develop this unique relationship.
The peak of this friendship was when Asher and I worked together as real estate agents in Manhattan. The times we had in the office were very memorable whether it was messing around with our boss, or going out to eat for every meal.
And the times we had doing our work was a tremendous experience as well. I was able to be with Asher day to day, witnessing and learning from the easiness he had with strangers that he was trying to rent apartments to. He had a gift: he truly had the ability to make anyone feel comfortable.
And during those summer nights, we played basketball in a Manhattan league with a group of our friends. I basically spent every day with Asher that summer.
Everyone who knew Asher knew that he was a big Football fan. This past summer, I had the privilege of going to Giants training camp with him and his brother Aryeh. We had this huge day planned. We had wanted to tailgate and barbeque in the parking lot beforehand, but our coals were not igniting.
Don’t worry. Leave it to Asher.
I turned around and there was Asher, laughing and walking towards me with a humpback tire that was full of coals that were already on fire, coals that he had somehow got from total strangers.
So we were able to use those coals to light our own, and there we were barbequing from our own grill and having an awesome time.
We were there for a good hour listening to music and eating burgers until we realized that Asher’s car’s battery had ran out.
Don’t worry. Leave it to Asher.
Asher calmly, and in his friendly way, found a stranger parked near us with jumper cables and convinces him to help us out and re-start Asher’s battery.
Why do I mention all of this? Because that’s who Asher was.
His ability and willingness to befriend and be close to anyone is something we can all appreciate. His ability to interact with people in positive genuine way is something that we can all learn from him.
The night before he passed away, I was sitting at home lazily watching TV and a close friend of mine texted me to get together and hang out. I asked him what he wanted to do that night and he said he wasn’t sure but that he wanted to see what Isaac’s crew was up to. Immediately I said no because Asher went to Wyoming.
The point is that Asher stood out as the way of having fun. He was a reason to get together with friends. Because no matter what, spending time with Asher no matter what the activity was, you knew you were going to have a great and memorable time.
Asher- I have not been the same since you were taken from us. I have not been the same because I am missing a loyal close friend. Yet, you will be happy to hear that I have not been the same in a different way.
In your honor, I am doing my best to adopt your unique traits, the gifts that Hashem gave you.
As a tribute to you.
I know you are with me, Asher, and I know you are with Isaac, and I know you are with my family every day. And I know that you are with all of your dear family and friends. Asher, I am thankful to Hashem for having been so close with you.
You truly had a heart of gold.
-Ben Strulowitz
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