to be Close to

[ian2]

He is dead now, and everyone is being nice to him. In every aspect, this is appropriate. He was a husband and a father, a beloved member of a family, and he will be missed by those he was close to.

Question: Does "those he was close to" include the previously stated relations (husband, father, family members) and also the colleagues and Friends? Or only colleagues and friends, in which case the word "and" implies "IN ADDITION TO"? Thanks.

[Anglika]

Anyone that he was close to, whether related or not.

[ian2]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Anyone that he was close to, whether related or not.

Does it make any difference if we say "those he is close to" or "those who are close to him?

[Anglika]

No - though if he is dead, you need to use the past tense.

[Barb_D]

Yes, I wonder how they are being nice to him NOW, if he is dead. Is everyone speaking nicely about him, perhaps?

[ian2]

Originally Posted by Barb_D

Yes, I wonder how they are being nice to him NOW, if he is dead. Is everyone speaking nicely about him, perhaps?

Yes, "he"referring to Reagan. This was written a few days after his death. The original text is as follows:

Ronald Reagan is dead now, and everyone is being nice to him. In every aspect, this is appropriate. He was a husband and a father, a beloved member of a family, and he will be missed by those he was close to. His death was long, slow and agonizing because of the Alzheimer's Disease which ruined him, one drop of lucidity at a time. My grandmother died ten years ago almost to the day because of this disease, and this disease took ten years to do its dirty, filthy, wretched work on her.

By the way, almost to the day: does this refer to the day the article was written or the day Reagan died?

[Anglika]

Difficult to judge - I would say it refers to the writing of the piece.

[ian2]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Difficult to judge - I would say it refers to the writing of the piece.

Thanks.