A sad day for the ACLU-PA
Words can't express how much we miss our dear friend and colleague Larry Frankel, who passed away unexpectedly late last week. We will always remember his wit, his charm, his brilliance, and his dedication to civil liberties.
ACLU Mourns Passing of Larry Frankel, Former ACLU-PA Legislative and Executive Director
Labels: larry frankel
posted by ACLU of Pennsylvania at 8/30/2009 03:55:00 PM
3 Comments:
A real shame and a real loss to civil liberties. Namaste.
We will miss Larry's warmth, wit and wisdom. I can't pay any higher tribute than these words of President Obama about Ted Kennedy: "We cannot know for certain how long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way. We cannot know God's plan for us.
"What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and love, and joy. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we can know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of other human beings."
When I first started working at the ACLU, I knew very little about the issues. Larry made sure I understood that - informed or not - my perspectives and my contributions to the fight for civil liberties were important, and he took the time to explain things to me that some might argue a voting citizen should already know. He had such an elegant combination of confidence, patience and humility.
Now I have a deeper understanding of what America can be, which makes me a more hopeful participant in this democracy. And change always begins with someone hoping for it.
I want to think, act, work, and live in a way that is beautiful and just, and I want to help others do the same. I hope that makes Larry proud.
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