The Story Behind "I Love You Like..."

This is a story about friendship, a father’s love, and a children’s book — and how together, they transcended a Stage IV cancer diagnosis.

They say opposites attract, and this friendship proved that theory. Scott Sutton grew up in a small town in central Pennsylvania. Alec Traub hails from Los Angeles … Beverly Hills to be exact. On paper, the duo couldn't be more different, but when they got to know each other, they became lifelong friends. 

After spending two years together as co-workers traveling to all parts of the United States, Scott and Alec returned to their respective home coasts. Still, they managed to keep in touch, no matter the time or distance. And in fact, Scott even chose to name his son Alec.

In 2016, at age 34, Scott learned he had Stage IV neuroendocrine cancer — a rare and life-changing disease that began in his lungs and rapidly spread with tumors developing throughout his body. When Alec (Traub) and his wife, Dana, visited him in Pennsylvania, the idea for the book was sparked.

Dana and Scott’s wife, Anne, would lovingly call their husbands “childish”… for many reasons, but mostly for their long-standing game of creatively telling one another how much they had been missed. In closing emails or texts, each would try to outdo the other with a funny “I miss you like …” quip. One led to another — and became part of their every exchange. They never suspected at the time that their jokes would one day become a father’s legacy.

Two years later, as Scott continued his battle with cancer, he and Alec published “I Love You Like…”, dedicated to Scott’s three-year-old son. Illustrated by Glenn Zimmerman of Garfield Studio, Paws, Inc., the book follows the story of a young grasshopper who repeatedly interrupts his work-bound dad with the important question of “How much do you love me?”

Scott lost his battle to cancer in late 2018, but his book is a testament to a father’s love and a lasting friendship. May this book bring as much joy to fathers and children everywhere as it has to the Sutton and Traub families.

Scott Sutton:

Two years after receiving a rare cancer diagnosis, Scott, 36, died Dec. 13, 2018 at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite that prognosis, Scott treasured the time he had with his wife, Anne, and 3-year-old son, Alec. He co-wrote “I Love You Like…” as a gift for his young son. “If I’m not going to be around, at least he’ll have something — to always have,” he told a newspaper columnist soon after publishing in July 2018. A native of rural Cambria County in Pennsylvania, Scott graduated from Lycoming College, where he was a founding member of Phi Kapp Psi Fraternity. He met co-author, Alec Traub, as co-workers at fraternity headquarters in Indianapolis. At the time of his death, Scott was Pittsburgh regional sales manager for Grainger. 

Alec Traub:

Co-author Alec, 39, was born and raised in Los Angeles, where he now lives with his wife, Dana, and Caleb, their Havanese pup. He is a graduate of the University of California-Irvine where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Alec met Scott when they worked together at the fraternity’s headquarters in Indianapolis. Alec now sells real estate in Los Angeles. He considers the opportunity to co-write “I Love You Like…” a life-affirming experience he’ll always treasure.

Glenn Zimmerman:

Glenn, 66, a resident of Fishers, Indiana, has been a professional animator for over 40 years. He currently works at the Garfield studio, Paws, Inc., doing animation and illustration. He has two grown children — a son, Jon, and daughter, Melissa. Glenn offered to do the illustrations for “I Love You Like…” after hearing about the book from Melissa, whose husband also once worked at the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity headquarters with Alec and Scott.