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Losses That Come Too Soon

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Redskins Unrestricted: August 21

The Post's Jason Reid reports on NFL's Gene Upshaw's death and legacy.

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And yet, during a family vacation near San Diego just last month, there she was in the Jacuzzi, waving her foot at her father, who had never seen his daughter in a swimsuit after the cancer claimed her left arm last December.

"I bet you can't do that," she said to Buges, who said he laughed at the time and knew Holly was just trying to make her dad feel better about seeing his beautiful, blond child battling such a horrible affliction.

This is who Holly was at the end of her life: Whenever she felt bad for herself, Brenda and Joe said, she would take a long, hard look at the little children at the cancer center.

She even said to her father, when she thought of those children: "Hey, Dad, don't feel sorry. Somebody has my future ahead of me."

Jon Jansen and the rest of the offensive linemen have been as supportive as possible, given the circumstances. And many of them wept openly when Bugel returned to a meeting that had been interrupted by Brenda's call.

"He came back in and just told us: 'Hey, love your kids. You never know what's going to happen,' " Jansen said. "We just [told] him that we love him."

It was a sad day for the NFL, the Redskins and anyone connected with the family of Joe Bugel. But today is a good day to remember Holly, and the joy and sense of purpose she brought her father, mother and sisters, Angie and Jennifer. Here's hoping they find the solace that seems so elusive at this sad, sorrowful moment.

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