Long-time club member Bill Lindsay passed away last month. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, and to his many friends. Bill served as Club Treasurer, and was a willing, able, and energetic volunteer for many of our projects. He will be missed! Below are some fond remembrances from a few of our members:
Jan Graham: My memories of Bill always include Alice, from the first time I met them at a small cocktail party in their home, to the last time at the headquarters. Bill was so many things: an intelligent accomplished man, a father, a good friend, but most of all a loving husband. His care and gentleness when he held Alice’s hand were just part of that loving. One early evening at headquarters, Bill cut up an apple in small pieces for her to feed to Leo. He smiled at the delight in Alice’s eyes, that warm and gentle image is my favorite memory of Bill.
Christina Showalter and Margie Baker: Thinking about Bill Lindsay called to mind what the late political columnist and commentator Mark Shields said of late Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, that “he was a stranger to self-importance.” Margie Baker remembers Bill as always willing to help for the benefit of the group, not ever putting himself forward for praise. He had an endearing way of being surprised when well-deserved compliments were aimed his way!
Too, the word “mensch” defines Bill, in the sense that the word has come to mean a person of integrity and honor. In our Kent County community, Bill participated in mediation at what is now Community Mediation Upper Shore in Chestertown. He served as the DCKC Treasurer, as well as helping out a friend in the capacity of a reluctant campaign treasurer. Sharing his love of music, he was part of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship as pianist for the services. We Democrats felt very lucky, for Bill was willing to provide a musical interlude at our numerous dinners over the years. Some years ago, when the Club was making an early-on concerted effort to foster neighborliness and voting by providing an informal lunch, Bill toted his grill
to the parking lot of the DCKC’s office and spent a Saturday afternoon cooking hot dogs for all comers.
We also remember the team of Bill and Alice. There, in memory, is the time that the Maryland State Democrats decided we should all make the effort to find out what our neighbors were thinking. Bill didn’t waste any time; he canvassed the neighborhood, and he and Alice hosted a talking session with their neighbors and others in their home. He was a great reader of books and of The Washington Post; he was not shy at expressing anger and indignation at injustices and wrongdoing. Bill quietly took care of Alice, at home, as her life came to an end. In the months that followed, Bill was grateful for the companionship of their dog, for, indeed, he was lonely without Alice. Everything that he did, he seemed to do so quietly. CFS feels strongly that, more than likely, there are many more things that Bill did to help people; we are simply unaware of them.
Photo by Goran Horvat via Pixabay