Bromont died this past weekend. He was pretty much done with this world. Trudi is a mess. She loved that dog to death. I just took her to the Kansas City airport, heading off to the Tour of California. Hopefully that will be a good distraction for her.
It is so strange how you become so dependent upon being responsible for another. He shaped my life more than I want to admit. I think he made many other people’s life’s better too, which isn’t an insignificant thing.
I had a deal with Bromont. I promised to take care of him as best I could, as long as I could. We took care of each other. He was a pure joy to be around and a very good boy. I’m going to miss him like crazy.
Terribly sorry. Sending best wishes from Texas.
My thoughts are with you and Trudi. I’m so sorry.
Sorry to hear it Steve I’ve got to at home and it’s always a tough time and one of them leaves
I’m very sorry, Steve. You were all lucky to have each other. Thank you for sharing your adventures with Bromont with your readers. He touched us.
I think how we treat the animals we love is a reflection of our character. I have never met you but have read your blog for several years. Your love for Bromont came through in every post. I am sorry to hear he is gone. He looked like such a happy beautiful dog. Try to remember the good times.
The only fault that dogs have is that they don’t out live us….
I am so saddened to read this, but it is a relief for Bromont to have a complete and healthy body again. I totally believe we will connect again and for now, his energy will continue to surround you and be with you and Trudi always. If you have not already read it, I think you and Trudi should read “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. Its an amazing book. Trudi may want to wait a bit before reading it though. It’s sure to bring more tears, but is one of the most heartwarming stories I’ve ever read.
My heart goes out to you both.
~Stephanie
until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened ~Anatole France
He couldn’t have had a better owner/friend in you, sir, take care or yourself, get another race in this season and crush the field for Bromont . . .
Many of us understand what they bring to our lives, and are heartbroken for your loss.
Bromont was a friend, athlete and a wonderful dog. He will be missed by many. The loss of a family member is never easy, especially one that lived a life of unconditional love. I so ditto Stephanie’s suggestion on this book. It truly helps in thinking about these types of things. I think the souls of our loved ones, human and non human, stay with us. Perhaps they come back in another form that we may or may not recognize. Blessings to you and Trudi.
So very sorry Steve, it was a joy to read your posts about Bromont, all the travels and good times together. Best friends. So much love. Thinking of you and Trudi. Rest easy Bromont.
Bromont was a good dog and will join other good dogs in doggie heaven. Our best – Sara and Gary
We’re all going to miss him.
rest in peace, bromont. i never met you, but i really enjoyed reading about your adventures.
always sad
will miss him
Rich
Steve, I am so sorry for your loss. I feel your pain, as we had to put down our golden last week due to cancer. RIP, Bromont.
Steve I’m really sorry for your loss. As important as Bromont was to you I’d like to suggest that you and your friends get together and have an event where you remember Bromont. I had a cat get hit by a car about six years ago and I cried frequently for about a week until I read The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. You might consider that for Trudi.
I’m sorry to hear that.
When pets go, it always leaves a hole in your heart.
So sorry, Steve. You couldn’t have been a better friend.
Amen. I always enjoyed reading about his adventures, and it was clear to me that he lived a wonderful life.
Steve and Trudi,
So sad to hear of Bromont’s passing! Having met him while I was race director of the QC Crit, it was always a joy to see you, Trudi and Bromont. As a long time dog owner, having our BEST friends ever pass away is always devastating, and we will always remember those four legged friends forever! I hope you two find peace in knowing that he is not suffering anymore! My condolences to you and R.I.P. Bromont! My best!
Sorry for your loss.
sorry brother
So sorry for your loss.
We are so very-very sorry! Bromount was a great dog, with a huge heart, easy going attitude and a love for running wild and free. He loved both of you intensely, as did you and Trudi of him. He is no longer suffering…but know that the two of you are. Our hearts go out to both you and Trudi. Take care.
Been dreading this thread for a while. Hate to see Bromont go, loved reading about him. I hope that he’s chasing those rabbits that my doggies dispatched along with my past doggies.
Oh man. So sorry for your loss. He was really special.
Been dreading this. There is nothing I can say. Having gone through loss of Mom and my Father in the past 2 years. Others to remember and keep memory of good times alive is good.
I am sorry Trudi, Iam sorry Steve.
-fergie
Sorry to hear the news, Steve and Trudi. Hang in there!
So sorry to hear this. I have always enjoyed reading The Adventures of Bromont.
I am so sorry. Dogs are the best friends we could ever have. I wish you all of the best!
We’ll miss you Bromont…..
Sorry Steve /hugs
So sorry Steve. Have enjoyed the story’s over the years about your adventures with Bromont.
i always enjoyed your Bromont stories. Ride on!
I’m so sorry for you and Trudi, Steve. Fill the hole in your heart with all of the memories of the great times you guys had with him. You know you gave him a great life.
I never met Bromont but after reading about his adventures all this time, it feels like the world lost a special soul. You and Trudi were good to him, rest easy with that. I wish you both peace.
David
The tears are rolling down on to my keyboard. Brings back memories of all my past pets.
I will miss this wonderful being. Thoughts out to the both of you.
RIP Bromont.
Condolences to Trudi and your good self.
Will miss your posts about Bromont.
Oh man! My condolences to you and Trudi. Bromont posts and pictures are the best. Tears of sadness this morning. May you find peace in the coming months.
Steve,
That deal you made with Bromont? I’m thinking you both more than lived up to your respective ends of the bargain. Like, tons.
I made a similar deal with pets I have loved and lost (two dear ones recently, within six months of each other). I told them that since they were leaving this world sooner than me, I expect them to be front and center on the reception committee when I eventually show up. Every fiber in my being believes this will happen.
I am so sorry Steve. From all of your writing about Bromont, it seems you provided him with a lifetime of fantastic experiences.
Steve- my deepest condolences. I know how much Bromont meant to both of you after reading your chronicles on him. My wife and I were just recently given the horrible news that our 12 yr. old Bordie Collie mix, Anderson, has Lymphoma and maybe only a month to 2 months tops. For us this is all too soon as we are coming up on the one year anniversary, May 7, of our 14 yr. Golden Retriever, Jenna, suffering a stroke out of nowhere , (she had run 2 miles with me the day before) and then us having to let her go the next day. I’m more a runner guy then a bike guy and both these dogs had easily logged over 10K miles with me in the Verdugo Mountains by my house here in Glendale, Ca. We have no kids , they are our “kids”. It tears you apart . The only thing you can solace in is the fact you gave them the past life possible and they never had a bad day. It takes a long time but things get better. I think I cried every day for a month after Jenna left us. Actually I’m embarrassed to say I wept more then when my mom passed away. Wishing you strength in this difficult time.
My belief is that dogs are angels sent to do more for us than we can ever do for them. Bromont will be missed by all. May yours and Trudi’s sorrow pass as the memories of a great dog like Bromont will be with you always.
You have my condolences.
A dog is a special creature. They’re always happy to see you when you get home. They give back so much more than you put into them. I treasure the memories of all the dogs I’ve owned. I know I gave them good, happy lives, and that’s something to feel good about. You should feel good about the life you gave Bromont.
So, so sorry Steve. Find solace knowing you provided Bromont with an awesome life. Responses on this thread show how much positive impact he and your relationship with him had on others as well. He’s running endless fields and smiling on all of us. Take care.
Real sorry for your loss. You guys did everything you possibly could for Bromont! He was a lucky dog!!
So sorry for your loss. Lost my best girl a year ago and still heartbroken
Heartbroken. I feel for you and Trudi.
Sorry Steve, it’s tough losing a family member. You’re a good dude. Hang in there.
Goodbye, Bromont. Thanks for being such a good friend to Steve and Trudi.
So sorry for you and Trudi, wishing you all the best. Find peace in knowing that you gave hime the best life possible!
Wow, what a wonderful life Bromont lived. I’m truly sorry for your loss. It is so hard to say goodbye to a cherished friend.
I am a regular reader of this blog and have been dreading this moment for many weeks now. Bromont was a good boy and a great friend to you and Trudi. It is a sad day. Take care.
My condolences Steve, thank you for sharing a little piece of your time with Bromont with us. I will miss reading about him.
From reading your post, sounds like Bromont had a most excellent life, not many dogs are as lucky as he was. Ya’ll hang in there, and in time the good memories will take over the sorrow.
I’m really sorry to hear about this.
I am sorry for you loss, your care of Bromont speaks well of you the man. Take care!
Sorry for your loss, Steve.
So sorry for your loss, Bromont was a fantastic dog!
I’m very sorry for your loss. There are no words that can fill the void but perhaps knowing others share your pain will help a little. Thanks for sharing his life with us.
Bless the animals that make us feel the most human
Celebrate his life. Don’t be sad. You sign up for X amount of time. He had a great run. You and Trudi got a best friend. I would say lucky dogs all around!
He will always live on in the souls he touched.
so sorry for your loss.
Best Wishes
So sorry Steve. My thoughts go out to you, Trudi, and Kris. I always loved seeing Bromont running around at the local races. I’m like you, my dogs are my kids and when something happens to one it just tears my heart out. Rest now Bromont, may your memories live forever.
Really Sorry Steve,
There’s such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love [to dogs] while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price. -Dean Koontz
So very sorry to hear this, we had to say good bye to our “old lady” dog last fall, she was 16 and had seen more of the US than most people. You all are in my prayers.
-D
Thanks for sharing Bromont with us, Steve. So very sorry.
Steve and Trudi,
I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting either of you in person but after reading Steve’s blog for about 2 years now I do feel I know you enough to understand you both have good hearts. Please know as a dog owner myself who has lost his share of great companions over the years, I do understand and feel the pain you are dealing with at this time. Nothing like the unconditional love of a good dog to raise our spirits when they need lifting. To make us laugh when humor is the best medicine. Most of all to love us back with nothing wanted other than being our companions. God bless Bromont and you both, I wish I could have had the honor of meeting him myself.
Sincerely,
Mark
Fellow dog owner and reader who felt touched by your stories about Bromont. When the grief lifts, the beautiful memories remain of your best friend and family member.
Steve, I’m so sorry.
Dogs are just special, and Bromont sounded like an extra special dog. My heart goes out to you and Trudi both.
My thoughts are with you and Trudy! Animals somehow can bring out something in all of us that another human being can’t; it seems strange, but it truly is wonderful! You gave Bromont a wonderful life and I’m quite sure that he returned the favor many times over. Take care and remember all the good times!!
Steve: I admire the way that you shared life with Bromont. He was a lucky dog, and you are a good man.
sorry for your loss.. i lost a few over the years.. it really sucks.. put a picture of him on your top tube…
You were very lucky to have one another. My very best to you and Trudi.
I knew in the last several weeks I would come to read the daily updates and this news would be here. it makes us all very sad, he will be missed.
I’m crying right now, and I never cry. Sorry.
Just another story Steve –
I’ve been reading your blog for 7-8 years I think. I often babble about what I’ve read here to the wife and it goes in one ear and out the other. However she saw the pic of Bromont while I had it on screen. She asked if something had happened. I told her that Bromont has been sick for a while and she asked about him. She was very sad to hear about him. She relayed a story about seeing Bromon at Tulsa and asking ‘some lady’ if this was Bromont (I’m guessing it was Trudi) giving him a pet. My wife could not care less about the cycling aspect or any other part of our cycling drama but she knew Bromont and actually ‘met’ him twice (other time was at an Austin race somwhere). I think he had more fans than you 🙂
We loved Bromont.
You and Trudi have my sympathy Steve. So sorry to hear this news.
My thoughts go out to you and Trudi. I’m like a lot of your readers I’ll miss reading about Bromont. He brought a bunch of smiles on days when smiles were few. He made a bunch of us very sad today. I hope you and Trudi are going to be OK.
Sorry to hear Steve
Condolences to Trudi and yourself. Take heart that Bromont is in peace and from what I can tell he lived a wonderful, loving, and loved life.
I am terribly sorry and saddened to hear the news, and you and Trudi have my deepest sympathies. I never had the privilege of meeting Bromont, or either of you, but your obvious love and bond with Bromont makes me feel like I’ve lost a loved one, too. Peace, comfort, and healing to you all. Thank you for sharing your love for Bromont with us.
Steve-
I appreciate your love, kindness, and connection to, Bromont, it speaks volumes about you as a human and the way you treat others. I have always enjoyed the way you treated me when I was new to the sport and did silly things- you were always kind and supportive! I know Bromont brought just as much to your life as you did his, maybe more – he is missed by many.
I wish you and Trudi the best as your hearts feel heavy with the loss of your beautiful dog. Take care and know that an animal couldn’t ask for a better family than the both of you.
R.D.
Perhaps this is the only time that I’ve read about a dog that I regret never having had the chance to meet. Perhaps we’ll see a new puppy come along soon. Condolences to you both.
My condolences to you for the loss of your dog. Bromont was a well loved friend to you and Trudi.
I know how both of you are feeling.
All there is to say.
I’m sure you already have thousands of pictures of Bromont, but I put together a quick Google image search for your Bromont photos from this site. Here is Google’s shrine to Bromont (RIP):
http://www.google.com/search?q=site:stevetilford.com+bromont&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=989&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=pjdKVaCLMcKusAXB8IHICg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg
Let’s hope this time he will be reincarnated as a cyclist and win a bunch of TdFs.
Love will always win over death.
on out. rip. woof
Great dog- great life. Well done to you and Trudi!
I’m so sorry to hear about Bromont. I know he was a great friend. I understand the hurt you feel. We just lost our beagle Freckles on 4/27. My girls have not known life without her. Again sorry for your loss.
Sam
so sorry about your loss. Even though I’ve never met your dog he feels like family. Keep up with your blog. I’m from Topeka and you represent us well. I now live in Florida and will be riding Dirty Kanza this year.