Remembering John
Over the Memorial Day weekend I traveled to Lake Placid with my mother, to be on hand for the first golf tournament in memory of my brother John, who died unexpectedly a little less than a year ago. The event was organized by Gary and Patricia Warrington, Kathleen Hayes, Nancy Morelli, and Debbie Preston to raise money for a memorial scholarship.
Although it was a raw, blustery morning, and although I don’t play golf myself, it was a privilege to be at at the Craig Wood golf course early on Saturday morning, as the forty participants milled around and what seemed like at least a dozen volunteers made sure everything ran smoothly. It’s a beautiful setting for a course, surrounded by the High Peaks, and John spent many happy hours there. Later in the day many of the participants met again at a sports bar near the high school that my brothers and I went to, doing something else that John could appreciate: having a beer with friends.
Thanks to everyone who attended, everyone who made the event possible, and thanks to John’s many other friends who couldn’t be there, but were there for him when it mattered.
Happy birthday, Keith!
Greetings from Brooklyn to Boulder! Jenn and I hope you have a great birthday and many happy returns!
You’re missing
Please excuse the silence. I’m in a state of shock right now. My youngest brother John passed away earlier this month, less than three weeks after our father’s death from cancer. He died of a heart attack in his sleep.
John had high blood pressure and a heart condition called bundle branch block, though I had never thought that this was life-threatening. He was under severe stress in recent months, both because our father was ill and because he had lost his job at the social services agency where he worked for almost twenty years. He told me he sometimes went three days in a row without sleeping. In his last email to me, he said that he was ready to concentrate on finding a new job but that it was scary because he’d never really had to do it before.
My partner Jenn has created a website for John, which includes a slide show set to the song “You’re Missing” by Bruce Springsteen (one of my brother’s favorite musicians). Well over 75 people came to a memorial gathering for John on June 14, though it was put together at short notice. John had many friends, and all of us will miss him.
Edward Wisner’s fountain
Many thanks to the reader in New Orleans who noticed my post on Edward Wisner and commented on it. He sent this photo later, taken during a scavenger hunt, and added, “After reviewing the photo again, I realized that it must be the fountain that you mention in the article. It’s located in West End Park near where the Southern Yacht Club was located (the yacht club was destroyed by fire in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina). In fact, that whole area was heavily damaged by the storm surge. “
I enjoy the wetland motif of lily pads and cattails that was used to create this memorial fountain. Maybe someday I can see it in person.
My father, William B. Wisner
I’m sure one reason I’ve been preoccupied with family history recently is that my father has been seriously ill for the last few months. He passed away early on the morning of May 15, and my brothers and I were at his funeral mass on the 17th, where I spoke a few words.
An obituary appeared in the local papers, which mentioned the Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, which helped look after him. The hospice workers provided much-needed support for Pop’s wife Marcia, kept Pop’s spirits up, and enabled him to stay at home and out of the hospital (which he hated). Donations would be put to good use.
