Armando Ballesteros

* Re “Man Kills VA Patient, Then Commits Suicide,” Nov. 11.

I read with sadness the story of the death of Armando Ballesteros. He and I were of different cultures and generations, yet were brought together in friendship by a cat.

For several years, it has been my custom to wind down from my teaching day at San Fernando High School by walking its quiet, leafy neighborhood. At one house a friendly tortoise-shell cat began hopping up on the front wall to get a petting from me. One day, as I was stroking her and enjoying her ecstatic purrs, her owner introduced both himself and the cat. He was Armando; she was Blossom.

Armando’s house, a block from the school, and petting Blossom became a regular stop on my after-school walk. As Blossom received a joyful ear-scratching, Armando and I talked about our respective lives and the state of the world.

Armando’s house was home to quite a few cats but only Blossom overcame natural feline shyness enough to come out and introduce us. Armando was always kind and friendly, and I will miss him.

HERBERT G. ROSENBLOOM

North Hills