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I’ve been retired from the practice of law since 2017, but I still receive the State Bar of Texas monthly magazine, The Texas Bar Journal. Towards the end of each issue is the Memorials section which contains obits for our fallen brothers and sisters of the bar. (There are a lot more brothers than sisters listed since most of the departed are older types who came of age when there was a much larger skew towards men in the legal profession.)
The obits are brief and contain the basic information such as city of practice, law school attended, area of legal concentration, etc. But towards the end, just before survivors are listed, there’s a sentence that begins: “(Last name of deceased) is remembered for…….”, and then a few particular things are mentioned. Oftentimes this is a predictable and anodyne list and might consist of “his love of his family and the practice of law” or some such.
But sometimes there are quite interesting nuggets. Just from the edition I received in the mail today are these:
“….remembered for possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of rock n’ roll history”
“.…remembered as a fan of Rudyard Kipling, with a lifelong interest in the history of the British and Indian armies during the Victorian era, amassing a sizeable collection of related books, firearms, military prints, and toy soldiers.”
“.…remembered for his love of family, the legal profession, and….racehorses.”
The Bar Journal is not generally known for its creativity, but I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of describing a deceased’s essence in a single sentence. And I’ve wondered what that sentence might be for me when I shuffle off this mortal coil and go on to my reward (or some might say, for lawyers, my eternal punishment). If I come up with something I think fitting, maybe I’ll send it in to the magazine ahead of time. But I’m still working on it.
For any of my fellow HDers who think more quickly than me, please feel free to post what your one sentence would be.
“…remembered for his love of learning and his love for teaching others to love learning as well.”
Kevin, I like it. Especially fitting for teachers, although it could apply to anyone who fits the description.
In my case, hopefully …
“.…remembered for not being a burden on anyone or society, and … a sense of humor.”
Thank you, Winston. Short and sweet.
You’re welcome.
Great thought provoking question.
As the story goes, a new widow went to the newspaper office to deliver her husband’s obituary: “Bob died.”
When informed that the newspaper had a five-word minimum, she changed it to “Bob died. Toyota for sale.”
Always recorded debits on the left.
As long as that was the Window side 😂🤣
A consummate gentleman who conducted himself with the highest standards of behavior and decorum.
That is one many would strive for!
Marjorie, that’s one to strive for.
There don’t seem to be as many true gentlemen around these days. But maybe I’m thinking too much about the characters who dominate the news cycle.
“…remembered for taking his work more seriously than he did himself.”
Thanks, Ed. That’s a good one.
Is remembered for making a difference in others lives.
I hope, and believe I did, as a Physical Therapist.
David, I bet you did. Thanks for your comment.
The name of the firm he worked for: ” Dowe, Cheatum, and How”
In my town, there truly was a bank owned by Cheatum, Goins and Cummin.
Near my grandparents’ apartment in London was a funeral home called Wake & Paine.
A funeral home here closed shop a few years after building a new building in busy location. An older physician suggested it would be a great place for a rehab clinic on his side of town. I told him I thought folks would hesitate to seek treatment in a place they remembered as a funeral home. He smiled and reminded me of the bank I referenced.
In the town I grew up in the primary funeral home was run by a family. Amigone. Yes, in fact, you are. Perfect.
Wow. You really know how to ask a hard question Andrew.
If you permit the one sentence to be stretched to two then I like like the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
WiIliam, that certainly makes James Taylor’s “the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time” sound lame.
Thanks for adding a bit of culture.
Bill, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote is gonna be hard to beat. Thank you.
I used to receive a similar newsletter when I was working as a registered professional engineer in North Carolina. The final section of Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors newsletter was a summary of the licensees who had run afoul of the professional or practice rules and were variously reprimanded, fined, required to obtain additional training, or referred to the authorities for criminal prosecution.
For my final comment, I hope someone will remember that “I worked to live, I didn’t live to work.”
Jeff, likewise in the Bar Jounal, there’s a section on lawyers who’ve been recently disciplined. It’s sort of the juicy gossip section and I guarantee you it’s usually read before most of the dry legal articles.
And thanks for your “one sentence” contribution. Well said.