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August 9, 2006
A death in the family
My grandfather died this morning at 3.05 AM from complications from his Parkinson's and Lyme disease. He was almost 83 years old. My grandmother was at his side, and I had a chance to visit with him a few hours before.
He was a humble man of private emotions. His actions spoke of his true joys. He had a public and private sector career as a lawyer and accountant. Outside of work, he was an upstanding member of the Jewish community, a world traveler, a lover of the arts, active in Democratic politics (an early gender egalitarian and racial intergrationalist), a loving husband, and a committed and serious parent and grandparent.
It can be difficult to have a relationship with grandparents outside of their roles. To really know them as people instead of institutions, takes an effort and the right grandparent. But my grandfather and I worked at it. When my parents had to work he took me to take the Hunter High School exam. He and my grandmother visited me at college. We had lunch together on many a summer day during my college internships and into my first few years of work. He took great pride in Jewish ritual, and made efforts to include us in them, as long as we made an effort to be patient and respectful. Oddly enough, the subject of belief never arose, and like me, he saw much value there regardless.
The funeral is tomorrow, as is our custom.
On an odd "circle of life:" note, today was also the bris of my new nephew from the BlueEyedGirl's sister. He did a good job and much brunch was eaten. It was such a strange counterpoint to the sadness rippling though my own family.
Posted by OneEyedMan at August 9, 2006 8:37 AM
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