I had a mentor once, and he died on me. Which is not what they are supposed to do. He didn't ever tee himself up as being one, there was no request for me to be his mentee (this isn't an episode of The Office), but he was and still is the only person in my life who truly knew and understood me, the only person I have ever met or think I will ever meet who filleted me, cut through and got to my bones, both personally and professionally. He knew every version of me and loved them all.
