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Celebrating A Life - Bob Hohler
Good evening.
When Joe was told that he had only a handful of days left to live, he said something to the effect: “Yikes, I’d better get going!” And in the short time that remained he sent off a blizzard of emails, had dozens of penetrating phone calls, held heartfelt gatherings around his bed, planned this service of celebration and, all in all, took what I’ve to come to think of as a kind of victory lap – one more time around the track - with us.
He lived his life, right to the very end, totally engaged and as thoughtful as ever. He urged us forward with his trademark humor, encouragement and praise. And saying again and again, “Thank you, thank you.” He crossed the finish line with tremendous dignity and courage. I fervently wish the same for you and me.
Henry Hampton, that brilliant thinker and producer, introduced me to Joe a quarter of a century ago. We became fast friends and, in Joe’s words, “co-conspirators”. We had the joy and enormous challenge of working together with Henry and with some of the most talented people in the world to support Blackside’s landmark series, “Eyes on the Prize” and the utterly stunning body of work that followed it.
Out of this experience Joe and I formed a partnership that worked over the years with a hefty catalog of groups and issues. It turns out that one of the key events in my life was when in the early 90’s Joe introduced me to the Melville family, the Melville Charitable Trust and enlisted me in its audacious mission to find and fight the causes of homelessness. He had already identified and recruited key individuals and groups to be allies in this effort. He had an unerring eye for talent and a deep understanding of what it took to cultivate and develop that talent. He preached that more that anything, the key to effective change is patience and support for the long haul. It’s no accident that many of the women and men he reached out to seventeen years ago are the ones who are now shaping policies, developing innovations and transforming systems across America. They are bringing us ever closer to the day when everyone will have a place they can call home.
Joe wanted at least two things to happen today. First he wanted us to have a short time to sit and listen and reflect and sing together. Restraining his natural exuberance, (and this was very difficult for him, believe me) he chose only a few people to speak, anticipating that they would set the stage for the second and very important part of this celebration – a very robust and hearty connecting and sharing. He did not see today as an end point. Not at all. He saw it as yet another, fresh opportunity for each of us to renew or make new friendships, alliances, or – to use one of his favorite phrases – create conspiracies to do Good.
Think, therefore, of the seven friends of Joe who are going to speak as setting the stage for this process and, incidentally, if you don’t know them all, you soon will. In the meantime, there are brief descriptions of each in the order of service.
At the conclusion of the service, Marsha, Alex, Max, Denise and their families will be available here at the front of the Meeting House to chat with you. Now, here’s Alan Broadbent.
Bob Hohler is the Executive Director of the Melville Charitable Trust.
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