Make someone's day with out-of-the-blue phone calls

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Bob Stroup gave generous gifts this year, but they didn't cost a bundle. He opened the Las Vegas phone book and called two people who had made an impact on his life ... and thanked them.

Shortly before Christmas, Stroup called Dan Burdish, who had tutored the high school freshman in algebra 35 years ago, helping him pull up his grades from D's to A's and B's. He thanked Burdish, co-owner of The Car Doctor, because improving his math grades "made me more of a confident individual," Stroup explained.

He also called Ray LaPointe, who had been his Cub Scout leader when Stroup was 8.

The suggestion that he call people who had touched his life came from his wife of 27 years, Darian. They had been talking about the people who had helped him, and he said he'd like to let them know. Although the Internet has made it far easier to find people, Darian made a simple suggestion: Look in the phone book. Surprisingly for transient Las Vegas, both Burdish and LaPointe were listed.

"It was the best Christmas present I have ever received," Burdish said. "He called me to tell me that I had turned his life around. He said that if not for me, he would have been a complete failure."

LaPointe said, "It was a wonderful thing to do, but Bobby was always kind of a special kid."

Burdish was 20 and just out of the Army, when he spent time tutoring high school students in math before going to college. He tutored Stroup for about three months. The lessons cost $10 each. Burdish would come to the Stroup home in Twin Lakes atop his Kawasaki 500. "I was just getting into motorcycles," Stroup said, remembering that Burdish "came and went with Peter Fonda flair." Stroup, an only child, looked at Burdish as "caring big brother." Burdish would teach him, then reward him with a cycle ride.

"I thought of him last Christmas," Stroup said, but didn't make the call until this Christmas. He decided to make the calls "because we should touch the people who touch us," he said. "Nobody takes the time to chase down old friends." But as soon as he got Burdish on the phone, "It was like no time has passed between us; there was no lag." Yet a lot had happened to both of them. Burdish had decided against a career in teaching and gone into business and politics.

Stroup, entranced with historic cars and motorcycles, met Darian while he was cruising Fremont Street. His opening line: "Your hair looks nice like that." A year later, they were married. His work life started with Safeway, and after Von's bought the stores, he stayed with the company. Today he's a full-timer on the night shift crew at Von's.

Even though 15 years into their marriage his wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Stroup is optimistic. "It's a good life," said the skinny guy with the big heart and the Fu Manchu mustache.

Stroup was born here in 1955. His dad, also Robert Stroup, was a bellman at the Riviera when it opened in 1955 and worked there for 26 years. His dad would bring him autographs from stars like Chuck Connors, Liberace and Vic Damone. "I had a pretty good 'Leave It to Beaver' upbringing," he said.

Stroup has a third call he wants to make, this one to his fifth-grade teacher, Thomas Zak. Yes, he's in the phone book, too. "He was a very nice individual, he cared about the kids." Zak also has a special place because in 1978, he sold Stroup his 1958 Oldsmobile, a prize indeed. Who knows what memories will prompt other thank-you calls.

Here's a suggestion. First decide who deserves a thank-you call. Then do it. Be like a gentler, kinder Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry." Make someone's day.

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