Robert Schimmel

I was very fortunate to work with and get to know Robert Schimmel over the last couple of years. He was a great person and an amazingly funny comic.

Robert turned his battle with cancer into a funny and moving live show. He touched many people with his story. The audience at Robert's shows were always filled with people who were affected by cancer. Whether they lost a loved one or were a survivor or were in the thick of the fight, they would come to see Robert and laugh.

I used to sit in the back of the Brea Improv and watch Robert interact with his fans. Many of the them would thank him for helping them through their struggle.

I remember one particular night a guy walked up to Robert with a T-shirt that read "Cancer Sucks." The man got about as far as "Hi, Robert..." before he broke down in tears. Without any hesitation, Robert walked from behind the counter and embraced the man while he cried. It turns out, the man had lost his father to cancer and while he was sick, the two would listen to Robert's CD's and watch his DVD's in the hospital.

I will never forget Robert, his comedy and the conversations we had. I feel fortunate to have known him. It's sad to see him go. He had so much more to say and so many people to help.