Zino Eddine Mezoui was bigger than life. So how can he die?

He did die in that we can no longer bask in his smile, be warmed by his hug or feel that life will be as good as it was when he was here.

How does such a man affect our lives? It’s not what he does. It’s who he is. It's too personal to describe. It’s irreplaceable.

Being in Zino’s presence somehow gave you the feeling that though the world was sometimes frightening and disappointing, it was not as bad as all that.

He was a reminder of what is good in our lives and the joy that wants to flower in our hearts. His eyes were full of kindness and understanding. He was a balm in our troubled times. He was our favorite poem. He was everything we’d want to remember.

Zino achieved in life what few do. He was for everyone who met him, someone they could never forget. Something great and wonderful was taken from us when Zino was suddenly lifted from our presence.

Our immediate reaction is a loss so deep that we have been robbed of what we considered most precious.

So how can Zino die? If there is any consolation it is that we cared so much for him that we will not let what he gave us go.

Though he will not be there to smile and greet us, to love and hug us, he will always and forever be there if we let him, helping flowers grow in our heart.

There is no good way to say goodbye to Zino. I choose to instead simply thank him and in tribute, try and follow his example of how one warm and very special person can make such a difference in our lives.

Howard Glasser lives in Kelseyville, Calif.