Richard,Im sorry for the loss of your friend,but if its any consolation to you,its good that he was taken quickly,as I ,as many others,have seen the results of a stroke,that can some times turn a fit and healthy person into a near vegetable,[without being mean].It comes as a shock to learn that the friend has departed so quickly,as with what happened to our friend several weeks back..
Don,was your stroke a mild one??An ex employer,and friend[not ex],had a mild stroke some years back,and he was lucky that all he was left with,was a small speech impediment for a few months..