One of the best things about being an author is the opportunity to do some cool things with some cool people. I volunteer with The Family Tree, Maryland’s leading non-profit for preventing child abuse. For their recent Great Chef’s charity dinner and auction, I donated the right to name a character in my third book (coming out in 2013).
A few days later, I was delighted to receive an email from the winning bidder, Mrs. BJ Litz of Owings Mills, Maryland. But she didn’t want to name the character after herself – she asked me to immortalize the name of her husband, George Litz.
I was incredibly touched by her email, which spoke in glowing words of her husband of over four decades.
George was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, which metastasized to his brain in September of last year. He’s been through cyber knife surgery and chemotherapy, and he recently finished ten days of full brain and chest radiation. I would probably be a nervous wreck, but BJ writes, “This was all done at Georgetown Hospital, love that place and all the people we came in contact with!!”
George was born in Baltimore, went to Baltimore City College, and began working for the family business, L&L Supply, when he was 17. He’s now the president and owner. Among other things, his company supplied the brick that built Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore’s baseball stadium) and the materials for PSINet stadium (home to the Baltimore Ravens).
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
BJ and George met on a blind date when BJ was nineteen and George was twenty. It must have been a real love match, because they’re still together, with three daughters, aged 40, 36, and 32 – and five grandchildren. You can read a fun story of how their daughter, Lacie, met her husband, a Ravens football scout, at a Ravens Christmas party here.
I love this picture of BJ and George dancing at their daughter’s wedding:
BJ and George Litz, dancing at their daughter’s wedding at Ravens stadium
Amazing biceps for any woman, but particularly for someone who has five grandkids, right? Just looking at this picture made me resolve to go to the gym more.
But the part of her email I loved the most was this: BJ wrote, “George is amazing and even more handsome then ever with no hair!!”
George Litz obviously has terrific taste in women, and he’s one of life’s good guys. I’m honored to be naming one of the good guys in my next book after him.