Last week was not a good week. Cooperstown lost two
of its own. Donald C. Reed, Jr. and Dorothy Elizabeth
Chase.
Both were Cooperstown natives and both graduated
from Cooperstown High School, Dorothy in 1938 and Donny
in 1943. And they both made their own individual contributions
to the community.
We are unable to move through our house without noting
Donnie’s handiwork. Even as we write this, the carpet
at our feet is there because of Donnie. However, when we
remember Donnie, it is not for the carpet with which we
live, but for the radiator that he took off our hands. When
we moved back here in 1982, we had the heating system
redone, replacing the radiators with baseboard heat.
However, many years ago, Jerry’s grandmother had the
radiator taken out of her bedroom, as it produced too
much heat.
It was stored in the basement and, unfortunately, did
not go away when the rest of the radiators did in 1982.
Consequently, when we decided to re-do a part of the
basement for Christopher’s digs, we were forced into disposing
of the radiator.
Twice Doug Gohde lugged it to the landfill. And twice
he brought it back to us as it was not accepted. He was
told it could leach something, we know not what, into the
soil which would then run down Willow Brook and into
the lake. So the radiator then took up residence in the
garage until Donnie arrived one day and asked if we had
a radiator which we wished to get rid of. We showed him
the radiator and he pronounced it to be perfect.
Perfect for what, we asked. And he explained he was
going to use it as an anchor for his buoy to which he tied
up his boat on the lake. So directly into the lake went the
radiator, bypassing both landfill and Willow Brook. And,
as far as we know, it is still resting comfortably at the bottom
of the lake.
And so, although we will certainly miss seeing Donnie
around town, we will always remember, with a smile on
our face, Donnie’s recycling of the Ellsworth radiator.
To Donnie’s family and his many friends, we extend
our sympathy.
We first encountered Dorothy Chase when we married
into the Ellsworth family in the summer of 1971. At that
time she cleaned for our mother-in-law, Enid Ellsworth.
And when Enid died ten years later, Dorothy started
cleaning for us and continued to do so until she broke her
wrist thus ending her cleaning days. However, not being
one to stay idle, Dorothy continued volunteering at the
senior meals nutrition center, at Bassett Healthcare and,
of course, at Christ Episcopal Church. Sometime during
our tenure as treasurer at Christ Church, we started joining
her once a week for lunch at the nutrition center. And
we took her home from the church Friday mornings after
she finished folding and stuffing the Sunday bulletins.
Unfortunately, the time came when we began to realize
that Dorothy needed more care than she was getting
living alone in an apartment here in Cooperstown. We
then helped her move first in October of 2007 to Welcome
Home in Richfield Springs and then again in June of 2008
to Marchand Manor in Sharon Springs. We used to joke
that she was working her way through all the ``Springs’’
in New York State. However, we did tell her that when
she got to Saratoga Springs she was going to be on her
own.
That, of course, never came to pass and we finally
moved her, for the last time in August of this year, to Otsego
Manor.
Throughout all of these moves we were able to still join
Dorothy once a week for lunch, first at the Tally-Ho in
Richfield Springs, then at My Sister’s Place in Sharon
Springs, and finally at Otsego Manor here in Cooperstown.
We always enjoyed our lunches with Dorothy and we
will be eternally grateful for what she taught us about
accepting with good humor those changes in one’s life
that occur as part of the aging process.
She graciously embraced each step of her journey towards
her goal of life everlasting with her Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. She now dwells with the angels and we
are the poorer for it.
In closing, our quote this week comes from The Book of
Job, Chapter 1, Verse 20, which says ``...the LORD gave,
and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of
the LORD.’’ And even though we find it hard to accept, we
do know it is as it was meant to be.
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column
may be made by mail at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown,
NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail at
cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
Columns
In These Otsego Hills: Cooperstown loses two of its own
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
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Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
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In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
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Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
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In These Otsego Hills: Dear Santa ...
Although we tend to think Christmas is for children and thus rarely think about what we might like to have, this year we have decided to let Santa know what might be left under the tree with our name on it. Of course, we fully understand if our list is a bit long, a bit expensive and a bitlate. However, we have just finished reading our November issue of Health and so have just realized what we need that we do not currently have.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Irony abounds
These are querulous times. Dissent and disagreement, as uncomfortable as they sometimes are, are essential components of a viable democracy. Democracies are always messy because everyone has a right to speak his mind and because whenever a majority is able to gain the numerical upper hand it pretty much runs the show. Several political philosophers have written quite persuasively of what they characterize as the “tyranny of the majority.” Get enough people on your side and you have the opportunity to get your way so long as you are able to maintain power. I suspect that most thoughtful people would agree that wisdom is hard to come by.
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
