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My name is Robin, and for three years in the mid to late 90’s I had one of the absolute best seasons of my life being Ben’s girlfriend, and through him, becoming a part of this extraordinary family. The Giunta’s. We just clicked from almost the first moment we met. I quickly learned that Ben’s capacity to love, his kindness, and his humor to make me laugh, often, at the strangest things were direct reflections of the home he grew up in. Mom Vincenza, Ada, Tiffany, and Erma, you didn’t just welcome me into your homes; you always made me feel like real family. After losing both of my parents 6 months apart in the same year several years before, meeting Ben and his family helped me in ways I find difficult to put into words. He was my boyfriend, my best friend, and my safe harbor. I will always remember one Christmas Eve dinner, sitting around Mom’s dining table. I watched Ben catch his mother’s eye and smile or joke around with Tiffany and his sisters. In that ordinary moment, I realized how lucky I was to be surrounded by this much love. And yes, Tiffany, the famous Uncle Benny’s waffles and ice cream, which I still love to this day! Thank you, family, for sharing him with me, and for giving me a second family. I will forever cherish the times he and I spent together trying new dinner recipes, especially one his favorite desserts I would bake, fresh baked berries fruit crisp tartlets which would always made him smile. I realize that family isn't just about blood; it's about who shows up, who laughs with you, and who holds you together. He carried your family's strength every single day. We loved him together. We will hold his memory together, always. Rest in peace, my love.