‘Tis the season for recognizing people for their kindness. You surely have seen and heard reports of many. Someone dropped a gold nugget into a Salvation Army kettle. A woman donated a kidney to a stranger. An anonymous retiree handed out $20,000 to folks on skid row.

Then there are the high profile people who have been giving away hundreds of millions of dollars.

In the last few years it has been my good fortunate to witness extra-ordinary kindness and charity in Syracuse. The man who has done the giving will squirm when he reads this. He shies from publicity, shrugs off expressions of gratitude. The words “humble” and “humility” should be made part of his name.

He was married for many years. After they divorced he remained friends with his former wife. Not close friends, but friends. Several years passed. Then she, in her early 60’s, suffered a stroke. For weeks she remained in a coma. For months she flirted with death. For months she underwent rehab.

She suffered setbacks. Infections. Heart problems that threaten her existence. Endless depression.

John virtually moved into the hospital. He became her advocate extraordinaire. He prodded the doctors, worked with the nurses. He memorized all the data, grew expert in her drugs and treatment. He negotiated with insurance companies. He waded through the blizzard of medical paperwork. He helped maneuver her through disability payments. He helped her negotiate disability and retirement stuff with the company that employed her.