Gayle sent this to Bill Chambers who passed it along to EMWA.
I'm passing it along to all of you.
JIM DOHERTY
Dear friends,
Please forgive this gang email, but it's heartfelt.
Our family and I send you much gratitude for your wonderful
thoughts for us at Den's death, and your hopes for the
recovery of Den's elder daughter, Katie. Although she's in a
coma, she's stable, and we're optimistic.
Still, we feel it important to celebrate Den's life
and work, and we hope that even if you're too far away to
attend, you'll know that you're in our thoughts and very much
wanted. This is a party, a time for joy, as Den would
want.
Also, since many of you have asked, later in this
email is information in case you've been thinking of sending
flowers or making a donation in his name.
And finally, since many of you have asked this, too,
I'll give a brief explanation of what happened to Katie and
Den.
The Party 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 27,
2005 Unitarian Church 1535 Santa Barbara Street. Santa
Barbara, CA 93101 church phone number --- (805)
965-4583
Please wear your cowboy hats and/or boots if that
appeals. And feel free to bring food and drink to share ---
remember we're dealing with a long-time socialist here. But
you don't have to do any of this. Just come if you can. We
expect to have fun, with music, book talk, Den talk, fine
food and drink, and even the military and perhaps a
bagpiper
(Douglas clan) in attendance. No RSVP is necessary.
If you're driving from the south or from the north on
the 101, exit on Carrillo Street. Turn away from the ocean,
heading east into the city.
(From the north, turn left onto Carrillo. From the south,
turn right onto Carrillo.) Continue on Carrillo. Turn left on
Santa Barbara Street. The church will appear magically on
your left in a few blocks, near Arrellaga Street.
The Party at Bouchercon To celebrate Den's life and
work Because of the kindness of Deen Kogan, there will be a
similar celebration at Bouchercon --- The World Mystery &
Suspense Conference. 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, September
2nd the Missouri Room Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Chicago, IL
Flowers & Donations If you'd like, we suggest that
instead of flowers you make a donation in Den's memory. We
have two ideas:
The Dennis Lynds Special Collection University of
California at Santa Barbara
Make checks payable to the UC Regents, Davidson
Library. Please note on the check: "Davidson Library, Dennis
Lynds Special Collection."
(The instructions are explicit so that donations go to his
collection instead of into the giant maw of the UC
system.)
Mail to: UCSB attn: Davidson Library, Dennis Lynds
Special Collection Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010
or:
Democratic Socialists of America 180 Varick Street,
12th Floor New York, NY 10014
What happened
Katie is a librarian, one of the handful of district
managers in the San Francisco public library system. She
oversees eight libraries, the youngest person to have this
position. Last Tuesday, Katie went out for a late lunch and
was struck by a dump truck. Her skull was fractured.
We're still waiting for the police report, so we know
little more than that. We've been told that she was in the
cross walk on Mission Street, and the truck driver jumped out
immediately and, thankfully, called 911.
In the beginning, she was lucid and her usual wacky
self, despite a very bad headache. But on Thursday, she had a
Grand Mal seizure, and went in for emergency surgery to
remove part of her skull to relieve pressure on her brain,
which was swelling. The doctors said she might not
survive.
Den had been ill for two years, including several
surgeries, valiantly fighting back each time, but also
growing increasingly weak. Of course, he desperately wanted
to be with Katie and Deirdre, her sister, as did I. So Den
and I flew immediately to San Francisco, but when we got off
the plane, Den began to feel bad.
We thought it was the usual stomach cramps. He took
his pill and I did my little things to help him feel more
comfortable, and he soldiered on, walking jauntily through
the airport. But he got steadily worse, eventually ending up
in ICU in the same hospital as Katie.
By Friday morning, my children, Paul and Julia, were
on planes flying to San Francisco because of Katie. They did
not know about Den. Later that morning, the doctors told
Deirdre, Deirdre's boyfriend, Bob, and I that Den could not
survive. I don't have the final report yet, but it appears
Den must have had a massive heart attack a few days earlier,
but we didn't know it. It cut off the supply of blood to part
of his organs.
And so that afternoon, Friday, we were with him,
holding his hands, as he passed from this world.
Den didn't suffer long, and he was near Katie.
Inadvertently, and blessedly, he was put in the room directly
above hers.
He never did get to see her, and of course she has no
idea he's dead. Because it happened in San Francisco and not
in Santa Barbara, Deirdre was able to be with him and me ---
another blessing. We stayed with Den quite a while
afterwards. It was hard to leave him. Then we went down one
floor to be with Katie and take care of her. Paul and Julia
arrived shortly, followed by Paul's wife Katrina, all to
discover the devastating news about Den.
My dear friend David Morrell calls this a train wreck,
and of course he's right. And gosh, it sure has felt like
that. It's a relief when someone can voice what one is
feeling.
But at the same time, we've had Den many years. To us,
the world is less rich with his passing, and we miss him a
lot. And we continue to worry about Kate. Still, we're
together. Add to that your warmth and support --- there's
little better than that --- and we have much to be grateful
for.
gayle
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