Sunday, July 16, 2006
Passing of a good man
Lt. Gov Win Paul Rockefeller died today. Had fought a battle with a blood disorder and lost. I never met him, only saw him occasionally on TV, read about him in the papers and heard tales from people who had. We're not of the same generation, social strata, gender or political party. Yet, I'm crying for this man.
All accounts say he was a good man who cared about others. He certainly didn't have to do a lot of the things he did. Didn't have to live in AR--he had enough money he could have lived anywhere in the world. Didn't have to be involved with organizations that he thought would help others, most notably Boy Scouts. Didn't have to go through the grind of running for public office in our time of hate and mud-slinging. Didn't have to give his salary as Lt. Gov to charity.
Not too many people in the world like that....certainly not enough of them.
His daughter Andrea used to hang out with a friend of mine when we were in college. To have that name, that family history, she was incredibly normal. Had a razor sharp wit, a great sense of fun and was really cool. I suppose she got some of that from him. I certainly hope so.
All accounts say he was a good man who cared about others. He certainly didn't have to do a lot of the things he did. Didn't have to live in AR--he had enough money he could have lived anywhere in the world. Didn't have to be involved with organizations that he thought would help others, most notably Boy Scouts. Didn't have to go through the grind of running for public office in our time of hate and mud-slinging. Didn't have to give his salary as Lt. Gov to charity.
Not too many people in the world like that....certainly not enough of them.
His daughter Andrea used to hang out with a friend of mine when we were in college. To have that name, that family history, she was incredibly normal. Had a razor sharp wit, a great sense of fun and was really cool. I suppose she got some of that from him. I certainly hope so.
