He was also gifted with what I call "clear seeing"-- he had an uncanny ability to cut through the smoke and haze of conflicting arguments and stories and see the truth with perfect clarity. Many, many times I though the old man was dead wrong about a person or an issue, only to find on gaining more information or living experience myself that he had been dead to rights all along.
Yes, I sure miss him!
I can only hope the he "sailed beyond the sunset" and he & "Tor" are hoisting a fine glass of Jim Beam or Wild Turkey in a better world than this one....