Bernie Mac ^[1] died Saturday. He was 50 years old.

He and I were about the same age, and I felt a connection to him and the character he portrayed in his celebrated family comedy, The Bernie Mac Show as an example, a good guy and good father — a mensch ^[2] — helping to bring up three kids.

What a gifted person, not least because of the charismatic and compelling way he was able to convey and celebrate our common humanity.