Mr. Samuel Pepys Hale

For those family & friends who had the joy (sometimes just fleetingly) to see Mr. Samuel Pepys while visiting, we are sorry to relate that our wonderful pet friend and integral part of our family lives now only in our hearts and memories.

We adopted Mr. Pepys on Labor Day, 2008. He found us (literally) at the Angels of Assisi Shelter in Roanoke, Virginia, where he was given the name “Peepers” (we like to think it was because of his striking light green eyes). As Pamela, Rachel and Dutch were walking through seeing which cats were available for adoption, he reached his paw out and touched Pamela’s arm. He chose us, and he came to live with us in Christiansburg. We later found out that he had been brought to 'Angels' four months earlier by a landlord who had found him and a dog abandoned by a former tenant.

On the way home, we decided to change his name from Peepers to Mr. Samuel Pepys. The original Samuel Pepys was a 17th-century British diarist, whose writings continue to be an important historical and cultural record of that time in London (he was also quite a 'rounder'). Mr. Pepys spent a good deal of time in Christiansburg helping his secretary, Dutch, bring his famous diary up to date, providing a unique, feline perspective. He had an appreciative readership among Dutch's colleagues and friends, who looked forward each day to reading Mr. Pepys' meditations.

Mr. Pepys was never a 'rounder', always gentle, but fearful of strangers. He was a house cat and loved domesticity. In Christiansburg, his one big adventure was sneaking outside from a partially open door while Pamela was in South Korea visiting Rachel. A panic-filled several days ensued. Dutch took a day off work to look for the little scamp while posting his photo throughout our neighborhood. On the day Dutch picked Pamela up from the airport, his reluctant confession about Mr. Pepys’ absence did not make for a pleasant ride. Leaving the back door open that evening, Dutch thought he saw Mr. Pepys pass in the hallway by their bedroom in the middle of the night. Thankfully it was not a dream, and Dutch was able to get downstairs and close the door before he could escape again! That was his first and last big adventure out of the confines of our home for the rest of his life.

Throughout his life, Mr. Pepys made friends along the way with his veterinarians and their staffs in Christiansburg, Norfolk, and Elon, all of whom remarked on his friendly demeanor, gentle disposition, and handsome physique. In fact, at every location he was called “The Perfect Gentleman.”

Mr. Pepys made three moves with us. His first was from ‘Angels’ in Roanoke to Cburg. The second was when Dutch was transferred to Norfolk. This was very hard because the long drive meant Mr. Pepys was confined in his cat carrier (although he appreciated that its special features were designed by Martha Stuart), and for the first four months in Norfolk he had to endure the absence of his beloved Pamela until she retired from the Christiansburg Library. Four years later Mr. Pepys moved again when Dutch retired and he and Pamela moved to Elon.

His six years in Elon were very happy ones. He settled in nicely to our retirement home and, with a few short exceptions, his health was good from our arrival here until the first part of this year. But by early Spring it was becoming clear that Mr. Pepys was slowing down. In May and June, Rachel had the opportunity to spend more time with him when she increased her daily commute to Raleigh by 70 miles so she could stay with him while Pamela and Dutch traveled to the United Kingdom. Rachel told us when we returned that the two of them couldn't have had a nicer time together; even though he was about 95 in human years, he was still a spritely fellow.

Just a few weeks later, Pamela visited Rachel at her home in Carrboro to share the news of Mr. Pepys’ profound decline. It was not unexpected but still a shock. On Saturday, July 26, Pamela and Rachel were with him as he passed quietly and peacefully with assistance from our trusted veterinarian at Elon Oaks. It was clear that Mr. Pepys was ready for his final rest.

Between his passing that morning and the afternoon appointment at our local pet crematorium, Pamela and Rachel brought him home one last time, to the window spot he loved so dearly. When we received his ashes the following week, we got together to share stories and look at pictures of our beloved Mr. Pepys. We remembered how Rachel and Pamela called him Sweetest of the Sweets; Sweetest Cat that Ever Drew a Breath; Mr. Loveeze; and Sammy Sweets; and how Dutch jokingly called him The Little Vagrant; Bad Kitty; and Biggest Jerkus. Dutch also reminded us that Pepys “referred” to him as the Big Oaf!

Rachel talked about how Mr. Pepys would sleep closely snuggled under her chin when she was visiting, and how he “helped” her in Norfolk when she was typing her master’s thesis and writing articles - and how just a few weeks ago, he sat beside her again when she was working at the computer while Dutch and Pamela were traveling. We also talked about how Mr. Pepys loved being brushed each day; he was always a fastidious gentleman. And how he relished leaping, and running up and down the steps to chase the laser light and the bouncing Yankees baseball, and how he excitedly waited to have us fling ribbons, strings, and cords for him to catch whenever we sat at the table to eat or play games.

One of our greatest pleasures was to see how much he enjoyed music. In his younger years he would jump onto the bench when Pamela was playing the piano. His favorite piece was “Sad Song”, seemingly because of its soft rhythmic style. We remembered that we were made aware of his music choices early on when he sat rapt with attention as a public radio song about the moon was playing. He seemed to always want to hear the classical music station, and we turned it on for him daily. For the past few years he also particularly liked Alexa to be asked to play “Calming Music for Pets”. In recent years, his morning would almost always include patiently waiting to be picked up and held at the French doors to watch birds and squirrels while listening and meowing along to "The Johnny Appleseed Grace".

Thank you for letting us share some of the lovely qualities of Mr. Samuel Pepys. We so appreciate the kindness and interest shown by our family and friends to Mr. Pepys (even though he may not have always outwardly reciprocated). The next time you visit us, know that it's going to be a little less special without him to come out to greet you.

With love,

Dutch & Pamela