When I was a child and my family would visit my father's mother in his small hometown near the New York/ Vermont border, one of the people my dad would make a point to see was an old friend named Jimmy Roche.

Mr. Roche was the editor of the little newspaper there, the weekly Whitehall Times. He also wrote a front-page column full of news and notes from around town. I think it was called "Jay Arrrrrrrr," though I don't recall him talking like a pirate.

He had a big personality. Filled the room with his energy.

He might have owned the paper at the time. I can't remember.

You see, Mr. Roche was part of an adult world that didn't really interest me. Not then anyway.

He died quite a while ago. But I've thought of him more than once over the years. I've wished I could talk to him about his approach to community journalism, all-time angriest readers, pre-computers typesetting, et cetera.

How about you? Did your parents have a friend you wish you could talk to now?

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