Ellie and Gene
From Rachel Kimber:
My eyes are filled with tears not just of sorrow on the loss of Gene but also with happiness that I was lucky enough to know Gene & call him my friend. You don’t need me to tell you that Gene was a truly special, fantastic, fabulous.. ‘sugoii’ man. My memories? I suppose the most vivid one is of Gene playing songs in Ohtaku House on the morning before I left Japan. Gene’s music and folk songs captured the moment perfectly and expressed how I think both Mel & I felt. We both sobbed – neither of us wanted to leave Japan (although, neither did we want to stay…). Gene’s music and folk songs expressed entirely the atmosphere, that Mel & I felt. Another memory is attending Gene’s concert at a university in Japan. The look of disbelief of the entire Japanese audience when Gene took out 2 spoons… and the look of pleasure as the music swept throughout the hall. And, keeping with that evening… the enjoyment that fellow train passengers, took to Gene’s concentrated look as he read the Japanese newspaper …upside-down!! Even though I haven’t seen you both in 6 years – you are both so close to my heart. One huge regret: David could never meet the man who I’d describe as wonderfully wacky and so full of fun.
From Naomi Dicker:
I cry off and on these days as I remember this or that event in my own life for which Gene was such a wonderful support. He was a great teacher for me and the only person I ever met who seemed to understand my world outlook, put roughly: cynical, but optomistic. Is that combination possible? I don’t recall if I ever asked him! I’m sure he would have laughed if I had, and improvised a story part true, part molded to the occasion to enlighten me on the question. Having known him is one of the true joys of my life, and I will be ever grateful to you, Ellie (yourself a wonder woman and role model for me) for bringing him the happiness, stability and extra years of life, as you did. And to each of you children and your families, who were always there to joke, spar and support.I take solace too, in thinking of the contributions he made: his and Ellie’s family life, which not only made their home a special place for all who entered it, but also gave us four children who themselves live that tradition; his concern for his students, their understanding and their advancement; his insight into people he knew and his warm acceptance of them as if only their best counted; the originality of his professional thought and the energy that so often translated it into positive action that us lay folks could share in; and his knowledgeable, clever, fearless and loving contributions to peace and progress in the community, the work place and the world. One is supposed to say ‘goodbye, Gene,’ at this point, but I know something of Gene will always be with me to give me strength or a chance to laugh. My thoughts are with you.
From Sam Hinton:
“We’re sad to hear that Evo’s dad has died. He was one of the participants in my Extension class “The Folk Singers” in the early 1970s, and we always liked him a lot…. That class took a lot of organizing; each participant played on 10 UC campuses one year and on 11 campuses the next year; I think Gene was in the first year. I did all the arranging for transportation and housing. I made an audio tape of his lecture, but can’t play it with my present equipment; both tracks sound at once!”
From Bruce Bronzan:
Doug Jones just forwarded the web site to me. My mind was flooded with sad and wonderful thoughts of this great man and his most remarkable family. You all have played such a big part in my life — more than you can know–and the foundation of that was Gene and Ellie. As I think of the amazing dinners at the Bluestein house, the incredible intellect, the music, the wit, the worldliness, the humanity and the sheer and abundant love, I am, in his death, struck with the life of it all. My thoughts are with you all and with Gene. I can not make the service on the 7th — Chloe and I are in The Tempest here in Marin that day. But please let me know if there is anything I can do.
From Joe Rostato Jr:
I am so, so sorry to hear about your dad. I am so glad i got a chance to know him and spend a bit of time with him over the years. I always thought he was such an inspiration… a person who could fill a room with his energy and soul. I consider myself one of the indirect descendants of his music… and I know there are hundreds if not thousands more like me in the world. I’ll never forget the editorial he once wrote in the fresno bee… where he blasted fresno state for placing athletics over academics. He suggested the school change its logo to a pitbull ripping a student to shreds. I know this has been a really tough time for all of you… during his illness. my prayers are with you all.
From Lev Liberman:
I was sorry to hear of your father’s passing — although it sounds as if he departed in the best way possible, surrounded by family and singing. Along with Ellie, Gene touched many lives through his music, his writings, his teachings, and his community activities. I’ll remember him as a righteous, good-hearted man who used his time on Earth to leave the place better than he found it. Gene will be missed — but his influence will live on in his family and in the many people he helped and inspired. From Hannsjoerg Scheid:I’m sad to hear that Gene left. For me it is the first loss since the beginning of my new life in the US. Somehow without him I would not be here and we would not know each other and and and …so many things would be different. I’m amazed by the ripple effect that is caused by touching other lifeand changing them forever. I remember talking with Gene about R.W. Emerson ,who means spiritually a great deal to me, right the first time we met. That gave me the initial thought that I’m in the right place and don’t have to worry, that there is something greater that we aren’t aware of most of our life. Just in those rare moments when we are open enough to receive we feel the greatness in the connection of everything.
From Judith Wegner:
I regret that I did not know Gene — only his daughter Frayda (who has shared her thoughts on him over the years). Gene must have been extraordinarily proud of Frayda–who is an amazing teacher/scholar in her own right, here at the University of North Carolina. I came to know Frayda when she transferred to UNC for law school, and have marveled at her accomplishments in ensuing years (as she became a faculty member at the School of Government here and established an outstanding record of leadership, teaching, and creating deeper understanding of law and policy for government officials and those who assist them in their work). I marvel at the music that Gene brought into Frayda’s life, the inspiration he provided as a teacher, the love and affection that he clearly engendered in Frayda and others he knew. I only wish he and I had not been faculty members on opposite sides of the country, since I would love to have learned more about how he worked the magic he did (and inspired others to do the same). I know he will be sorely missed by all, but that his acts of kindness and inspriation will ripple out to many over many, many years… including, I’m happy to say, myself.