My father later wrote—on one of his signature postcards—in all seriousness, “If you move to Athens, I guess we’ll see you once every ten years.”

He expressed neither sadness nor regret. Robert did not express emotion. Never. He was always reserved and aloof. Neither joy nor sadness ever crossed his face.

But what was truly in his heart?

I never found out…not even after his death.

[music: Schubert’s Death and the Maiden ]