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1 9 7 A P P E N D I X A Eulogies: Work, Love, Gratitude, and Remembrance One of my longtime friends, Dores McCree, approached me at the conclusion of a memorial service for one of our friends and said, “Arthur, you have become our community’s unofficial eulogist, and I want you to offer a eulogy at my service.” Later, Dores and I met again at a memorial service for one of our friends and she repeated her request. I was moved to go through my personal files and collect copies of all the memorial tributes I have been privileged to offer. I was surprised at the number of such tributes I had given over the years. I began to feel that Dores was directing my attention to something of special value in the relationships that inspired these tributes. I found in my files thirty-six of these eulogies, not including several eulogies I had delivered but for which I did not have the written text. As I read all of these pieces together, I felt humbled and uplifted at the same time. I realized that in focusing my thoughts on what is good and laudatory in the lives of these friends, I was rediscovering the ties that bind us as friends and companions. Therefore, in memory of many friends who have passed on, I am including here the full text of these tributes. BOB BAKER 1918–1996 I have come to this farewell tribute to Bob Baker with a deep sense of appreciation for what this good man stood for and shared in his life: dedication to the education of our children; a strong belief in equity and social justice; the courage and conscience to found the organization of school administrators and supervisors, and to lead the teachers’ federation; an unswerving commitment to achievement that has been the mark of this distinguished family; and finally, I cite with appreciation the rich romance that has embraced Bob and Connie for the past fifty-four years. 1 9 8 | A P P E N D I X A In a special way, it is this wonderful romance that has captured and kept my attention. Bob and Connie became one heart and soul, and to love one was to love them both. They have been the kind of partners who bring honor and beauty to marriage. It is what Chacona and I have cherished above all about our good neighbors and friends. Against the body blows of illness, which threatened Bob’s life in recent years, Connie fought with all of her extraordinary strength to keep Bob from harm’s way. And Bob lived with serious illness for so long because of his partner’s loving care and constant attention. Only God would bring this struggle for life to a peaceful end; and he would have to consult with Connie first. With all the good works that Bob Baker has left to his credit, and for which we gratefully celebrate his life, I want to praise him for having the good sense to marry Connie when the both of them were young so they could have the long life together that has been their richest blessing. I say to you, Connie, and to all in the family assembled here today: this is what God has given in his mercy, love, and generosity. Let us then be thankful and rejoice. It is perfect. ALBERT BHARUCHA-REID 1930–1985 When I received the news of the tragic death of Albert Bharucha-Reid, I experienced some of the terrible pain I felt barely two years ago with the similarly tragic death of my young son. Al called at that time from Atlanta to offer caring words of comfort. He was emotional. I knew he cared, and his caring, along with that of my family and other friends, has helped me to survive. We talked occasionally in the following months, and I think we were always in touch with our feelings. I am very proud of Al’s scholarly work. I got the measure of his outstanding achievements by reading the record, because like many of us, I did not know anything about probability theory in mathematics. But in my searching, I came early to the realization that Al, as some of our students like to say, was “heavy.” At the center of his immense creative energy , his restless and inquiring mind, was a gentle, sensitive, and warmly considerate person...

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