Stewart Udall's Death

Just got word of Stewart's death. We are very saddened to hear of his passing. Stewart was a beloved and revered giant in his time. His was a strong and constant voice for change to the end of his days and by his integrity he was able to touch many lives. Lee was a beautiful, gracious and equally accomplished "helpmate." How we loved and honored them. We made a trip to Santa Fe in December before we left for Africa, hoping to visit with Stewart. He declined to see us, saying that he didn't want us to remember him in his compromised state, but as we had known him in better days. We were saddened that we were unable to visit with him one last time. However our memories of Stewart and Lee remain vivid.

Stewart and Lee were very gracious to us when we were a young, homesick couple from the West. They provided us with a homebase, with a much needed feeling of love and acceptance in the cold Eastern atmosphere, with intellectual stimulation, with an escape from the drudgery of work and school, with a look into the excitement of the Washington insider's scene. They brightened the world for us. How we loved them.

I remember the family home in Maclean...jogging with Stewart along the gently rolling hills....working together with Lee in the large kitchen while the men watched Saturday morning cartoons, Stewart laughing in delight with the children...reading books from the well-stocked downstairs library....watching the children interact with the adopted baby squirrel that had fallen from its nest....listening to interesting after-dinner conversation from fascinating guests...after dinner dancing to music on the stereo. But perhaps the highlight was the invitation we received to the opening of the Ford Theater. I felt a little like Cinderella as we drove our beatup VW to Maclean, changed into our rented formal attire, and rode in a limo to the Ford Theater. We were invited to attend not only the opening program and dedication of the newly refurbished theater, but also the gala afterwards where we brushed elbows with famous people we had read about for ages. As you can imagine, our whole outlook on medical school and the East Coast was colored by interactions with your family.

One of my cherished memories is Lee's memorial service in Santa Fe; we are saddened that we cannot attend Stewart's memorial service in July. John is not taking Stewart's death lightly. However, it seems to me that in his dying, as in his living, Stewart was able to think clearly and operate from a position of strength. What an enviable heritage.