Eric Tucker

In 1987, Eric Tucker passed through Hong Kong on his way to China, where he was conducting a study on the Chinese telecommunications market. We were introduced by a mutual friend and, as fate would have it, we ended up as roommates in Connecticut later that year.

Although Eric was something of an older brother to me, both of his parents had passed away. So when he began a serious relationship with Pam — a brilliant and striking redhead — I found myself stepping into an unfamiliar role, informally vetting her as a parent might. It was all natural and well-intentioned, though I suspect I was filling a quiet void, and my protective instincts seemed to amuse her.

Eric and I both got married at around the same time and started our families in parallel. Ever since that chance meeting at a happy hour in Hong Kong in the mid-1980s, we’ve been loosely tracking each other’s lives.