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Postscript Annette Kaufman Louis Kaufman born Portland, Oregon, IO May I905 died LosAngeles, California, 9 February I994 TRUE SHARING Art is just the best To whoever will aspire to be its peer Has to be earned its givers own it All who made it or heard ifcall obeyed relayed itwho earn it own it - Jonathan Griffin, In Earthlight L UiS had great courage, kindness, and consideration to everyone during our sixty-two happy years together. He had unendingjoie de vivre and bore every discomfort (he suffered from extremely sensitive skin) or pain unflinchingly without complaint. I greatly admired his infinite patience and endurance during his last two years; I always considered Louis "half-Athenian and half-Spartan." I was immediately attracted by Louis's sincere desire to be helpful to musicians, artists, his friends, and me when we first met in New York. He was truly enthusiastic in admiring the achievements ofhis contemporaries , a rare quality in the professionalworld. Throughout our lives he always wanted me at his side for every activity-travel, concerts, operas, theater, 39I 392 • A Fiddler's Tale Louis in New York City at age 84, 1989. Photograph by Philip Cavanaugh. bookshops, fiddle-repair shops, long walks, museums and art galleries, swims, and sharing in his true pleasure in international cuisine. Frankly, I was delighted with his company and loved being under his tutelage. Louis observed carefully- he studied and knew about painting, great sculpture, prints, folk arts, cuisine, and human relationships. It was fascinating for me to learn from his wide experience and to share in his musical Postscript • 393 life and researches in America and Europe. I never heard him say unkind words to tradesmen or persons he encountered. After our marriage, when I first met his friends in various cities, they would draw me aside to request , "Annette, be very kind to Louis-he's such a specially good man." Louis liked to shop with me for my clothing, and when we shopped in markets, he enjoyed selecting fruits, vegetables, fish, and meats, although he could not cook. He always knew how everything should taste-which was of infinite help, for I had never even boiled water when we met! He enjoyed buying me rings, brooches, and earrings, and wanted me with him when he selected his clothing. He always surprised me by his fresh and practical observations in every field of endeavor. We had an ideal relationship. Louis loved listening to music- opera, orchestral music, chamber music, and solo works. When he was about seventy-five he told me, "It's time for me to stop playing in public, I'm beginning to find it a strain to perform. Passages that I always have played easily are now tiring. I want to stop while I still play well, it's time to listen to young people!" We continued to attend concerts and operas. We attended the Santa Fe Opera for many years and several Ring performances in Seattle. He took great delight in hearing talented young musicians and singers. Louis then devoted more time to editing editions ofviolin music and writing his memoirs. Louis was deeply concerned about the damage a poorly designed chin rest can do to fiddlers' chins. He had found an old German flat chin rest which was comfortable for most violinists, and he persuaded William Lewis and Son in Chicago to manufacture this model. Since he did not want any remuneration, they sold it as the "Kaufman Chin Rest." After a heart attack in I992, followed by surgery, he did not wish to have visitors (except for me) or to speak unnecessarily. Doctors and nurses asked foolish questions - "Do you know where you are?" "What day is this?" Fortunately I was there to suggest, "He won't answer that sort of question. Ask him something intelligent and he'll reply." One young doctor tried asking, "Mr. Kaufman, who is your favorite composer ?" Louis immediately answered, "Beethoven." He made a remarkable recovery and with Lance Bowling supervised the transferring ofhis earlier LP records to CD. He-~ined with friends at home and in favorite restaurants and attended concerts. During the years that my mother lived with us, Louis and I would take turns reading aloud interesting books. Mter Louis's surgery, when his eyes were tired, I would read aloud to him, which he greatly enjoyed. Mother found it very touching that he would often remark as we were going to our beds, "This was a great day and...

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