the irony is that he obviously had kept in contact with his truelly close friends, in order to know that one was in jail, and that one has passed away.... We all stay in touch with people you graduated with, there are still some i talk to 10 years later... but it is a much fewer number then it once was... That is reality, because people do move on with their lives... or don't, and end up in jail, or od'd on drugs, or killing themselves... or whatever time may bring.... that is reality.....
The other reality is that their are always people that will hide behind the safety of agreements.... and will talk about everyone and anyone... even the dead (may their souls rest in peace), and have no respect or value to them, or their lives.... So why respond, and or even care what they say?? all you are doing is empowering them.... Move on, and tell them to kiss your lily white royalty ass, which theirs will never be.