So much death this past year...*sigh*

I've been asked to speak tomorrow at a memorial service for my dear friends Dr. Leonard and Tanya Wood, who lived in Charleston, IL. Leonard was a retired professor of British and Irish history at Eastern Illinois University, and Tanya was a community activist who also operated the Charleston Alley Theater. Together they operated the Lincoln Book Shop and Po' Len's Books for almost 40 years.

I came to know them originally when I was looking at colleges and came down to look at EIU; my brother and I decided to check out the town, in addition to the university, and came across this delightful old-fashioned bookstore on north side of the Charleston courthouse square. 14-foot tin ceilings, rolling ladders and 140-feet deep and 26-feet wide, the store was a delightful mixture of both new and used books.

A very tall, slim, white-haired gentleman of about 80 and a small, bird-like woman of about 75 greeted us warmly as we entered and, hearing our accents, quickly engaged us in conversation about Ireland, how we came to be in America, Chicago and Charleston (in that order). Warm and charming, well-educated without being pretentious, the Woods soon captivated us both, and I'm afraid our 'tour' of Charleston essentially ended there at their shop, where Dary and I spent the next several hours until closing time. They invited us to join them for supper at a local restaurant, which we did.

When I returned to the area that summer, I again stopped in and was not only warmly greeted, but offered a job, which I immediately accepted. Such delightful people to work for! Tanya insisted on 'mothering' everyone who worked for her, and in his own low-key way, Leonard did too: calling to see if I arrived home safely after working on a snowy day, bringing in some cookies that 'Leonard and I couldn't possibly eat all of', an Easter basket chock full of goodies on my doorstep Easter morning, a lovely cashmere sweater for Christmas, the perfect book on my birthday, etc. .

When the shop I now own and operate became available, I had no bigger cheerleaders than Leonard and Tanya, who not only referred business to me, but who also became regular customers themselves. Leonard's passion was used and out-of-print books, and if a customer of mine wanted on, Leonard would search for it and find it 99% of the time and then drive it up to me, never charging me for anything but the cost of the book itself.

I have lost two dear friends, and have no idea what I will say tomorrow at their memorial service, because nothing I will be able to say will be able to convey my love for these two wonderful people, or for the void in my life that their deaths represent.

**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************


Tanya Wood And Leonard Wood

CHARLESTON -- Tanya Wood and Dr. Leonard Wood of Charleston, passed away at 6:47 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2004 as a result of an automobile accident east of Charleston. Tanya was born August 9, 1926 in New York, New York, daughter of Boris and Christina Stael von Holstein Bogoslovsky. Leonard was born January 1, 1923, in Utica, Pennsylvania, son of John B. and Ethel Boughner Wood. They were married July 19, 1952. Surviving are two sons, ********* of New York, New York and ********** of Peoria, Illinois; and one daughter, ********* of Landgrove, Vermont. Six grandchildren, and Leonard's sister, ********** of California, also survive. They were preceded in death by one son, ********** and Leonard's brother, *********. Together they owned the Lincoln Book Store and the Alley Cat Theatre. Tanya received her schooling at Smith College in Massachusetts and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Leonard received his degrees at State Teachers College at Slippery Rock, PA, and the University of Pennsylvania. Tanya was active with the Coles County League of Women Voters, the Coles County Historical Society, and the Coles County Democratic Party. Leonard retired as a Professor from Eastern Illinois University. In addition to being active with the Coles County Historical Society and the Democratic Party, he was the author of numerous textbooks and was also a Fulbright Scholar. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. There will be a celebration of Tanya's and Leonard's lives at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2004, in the Buzzard Auditorium at EIU. The Harper-Swickard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials in their honor may be made to MoveOn.org or the Coles County Democratic Party.

Thank you for your story about your dear friends Leonard and Tanya Wood. They sounded like such nice people. It's nice to read stories like this...it reaffirms my faith in humanity.

Paddy...may I express my condolences? I'm sorry you lost such dear friends.

Terry

Thanks. :hug:

How sad that we've lost them. You will do a great job honoring their memory tomorrow, Padraig. I love their memorial suggestions. :grouphug:

I will try my best. :hug:

Be well. :hug:

My heart is heavy tonight. :hug:

in this manner. My thoughts are with you.

:hug: Laura

:hug:

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. They sound like wonderful people. Cherish the times you had with them. Remember what they taught you. It's such an honor to have been asked to speak at their services. Just think, it's the last thing you will do for them and I think that's very special.

Their lives were a great gift to me, that's what I want to be able to say tomorrow. I just have to find the right words...

Just look inside your heart. Do you think it's corny to use a quote or saying to describe one's life? Maybe you can find a saying that fits their lives and personalities and use that as a starting point.

As someone whose never been in the situation of speaking at a memorial service, I'm sorry that I cannot give you more advice as what to say but I'm sure you'll do fine. All of us here at DUer will certainly wish you the best during this difficult time.

so many special people recently...:(

The only thing I can think of to say in the way of condolence is that you have been truly blessed to know so many wonderful people in the first place. I'm sure you will find the strength and the perfect words to honor these special people. Please know you will be in our thoughts.

:hug:

Thank you. :hug:

The book world has lost some dear friends I haven't even met.

May God embrace and bless them.

If there is no room in Heaven for people like Leonard and Tanya, then there is room for none of us. :hug:

What beautiful people they were, and how wonderful it is that they had such a profound impact on those lives they touched.

My best wishes to you, Padraig18, in this very difficult and painful time. I know that your loss is great, but your memories are very, very rich.

Take care --

:hug:

It is always very hard to lose people who are precious to you. And these folks sound as if they were wonderful.