Another touching Ted Kennedy story:

[trof]

From one of my son-in-law's fellow attorneys:

"On the sad occasion of the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, I thought I would share with all of you my favorite personal anecdote about the Senator and (a major Boston law firm). Maybe 15 or more years ago, (major Boston law firm) ran a large fund-raiser for the Senator in our Boston office. The 41st lobby and 41A were filled was the political and corporate glitterati -- literally scores of folks who had written large checks and were waiting to speak to the Senator.

At the time, a young man named Collins was working for us as a night security guard. Collins, who was 18 years old, had just come to Boston from Ireland and was working at (firm) at night and going to Suffolk College during the day. As the Senator got off the elevator, Collins sheepishly approached him and said, in his thick Irish accent, that he wanted him to know how much he and his mother worshiped the Kennedy's and that his mother had large framed pictures of all of the Kennedy brothers (Jack, Bobby and Ted) in her living room back in Ireland.

Without missing a beat, the Senator asked if Collins could get his mother on the phone right there at the reception desk at the 41st lobby so the Senator could say hello to her. And so Collins did. Imagine this woman's shock and pride getting a call from her son, just a few weeks in Boston, introducing her to the Senator! I have never forgotten that incident and am imagining today the cumulative impact of similar small acts of kindness multiplied over the Senator's lifetime. It was a wonderful life lesson for me."

:-)

[etherealtruth]

1. made me smile through my tears

thanks

[monmouth]

2. Wonderful, wonderful story....n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Let me add mine

I was teaching EMTs in Tijuana and first year college students in San Diego. So I could see the differences in how well prepared were these kids, and I made the observation that at least that group of cadets received a finer HS education than my college students.

I sent a letter to the Senator since one of his issues was education and why we needed whole sale reforms. I was far from a constituent. The letter was long and had multiple observations on why the country needed a Federal system, not just in theory, in practice.

Well I never expected a response. I still have that letter. It was also long. and in that letter, which i suspect he at least proofed, he explained why politically this was not possible, but outlined the changes he wanted to help impose. I suspect that NCLB partly came from things like this, though I also say NCLB he was taken to the cleaners by the bushies. He believed in education, deeply. And was willing to take the time.

As I said I was not his constituent, so getting a letter back was surprising.

[trof]

8. Damn. All I get from my repug congressman is a generic, cover-all reply.

"Thank you for sharing your concern and views with me..."
Blah, blah, blah.
I think it's computer generated.
It doesn't even name the specific situation I addressed.
Ted Kennedy was a class act.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I get that from my dem reps so don't feel too bad

and yes, he was a class act

[redqueen]

4. Aw...

thank you for sharing this story.

So nice to read all of this here today. *sniff*

[JeanGrey]

5. I'm so pissed at Time Magazine. Couldn't they have found a

more flattering picture of Ted? Jerks.

[trof]

14. Link? Er location, er somethin'?

[JeanGrey]

15. It believe it was on CNN's website - it was definitely a

Time cover, I just thought the picture not flattering..................

[felinetta]

6. Great story. Also Kennedy would read to school children every Tuesday.

[Spazito]

7. Now I really am bawling my eyes out...

What a wonderful, moving anecdote about the Senator. Thank you for posting this, it is MUCH appreciated!



:cry:

[onestepforward]

9. I love this story! Very beautiful. Thank you. n/t

[Raven]

11. What law firm? Ropes & Gray?

[trof]

13. Don't know if I should say. I'll PM you.

[bobbolink]

12. What's most wonderful is that it didn't cost him anything.--which means that ALL of us

can remember him by doing similar caring things for others!