More memorials for Andy

[EFerrari]

Folks, I'll do my best to be compact. They're coming in from all over.

From a Seattle progressive:

My condolences to you and all the other DUers.

Ray Minchew of Democracy for WA just posted a diary on Daily Kos about Andy.
Would you please post the link on the DU threads and ask anyone who is signed up on dKos to 'recommend' it so it stays on the home page. Here's the link
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/8/211417/6127

Those of us in Seattle are planning to show up en masse at Andy's memorial service. We'll show those bastards at scamdy.com and Bev Harris what real progressives look and act like.


From Susan Truitt:

From: Susan Truitt <susan_truitt@...>
Date: Fri Jul 8, 2005 9:29 am
Subject: Our dear Andy Stephenson susan_truitt
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
My dearest Andy:

We love you. We miss you. You will live forever in our
hearts and minds and in our devotion to the cause in
your life - verified elections. We will not let your
work go in vain. We will strive to uphold your ideas
and ideals and we will work to make your dream of
verified elections a reality.

You were brave in life and in death. You fought long
and hard to assure the use of paper ballots. You
fought long and hard lobbying in Washington D.C., in
talking to others about auditing elections, you worked
hard in Florida after the 2004 debacle farce election
and in Ohio, uncovering dreadful discrepancies that
corrupt our election system. You made a gallant effort
at running for Secretary of State in Washington. You
made friends every where you went, with your affable
personality, your impish demeanor, and your great
sense of humor. You gave up smoking recently to regain
your health. You underwent cancer surgery - that was
needlessly delayed when JohnsHopkins lost your check
for payment. You felt so much better when you kicked
the diabetes brought on by the cancer. Your lifelong
companion, Ted, gave you hope and support and
encouragement. Your new puppy made you smile. You were
so upbeat and positive and determined to live.

You suffered under the cruel and false aspersions cast
against you by Bev Harris, and a handful of others. Do
you believe that Andy was sick, now, Bev? Do you?! You
can call off the dogs now, Bev. Andy died. He is dead.
But you told everyone that he wasn't really sick.
People accused him of not being sick. Even some of
Andy's best "friends."

Andy - we will not be the same without you. You were a
kind and gentle soul. A dear and sweet and brilliant
and savvy man.

You were like a brother to me. I cannot believe that
you are gone. Please call me and tell me that it is
not true. Please come back and be with us.

We LOVE you, Andy. We will carry your spirit around
with us in our hearts and minds and in our actions,
fighting for verified elections, for voter-verified
paper ballots - for valid recounts, for counting every
vote, every time.

My dear sweet soul. My friend and companion and
champion and comrade. You did not go quietly into the
night, and neither will we.

With love we hold you in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Susan
Proud to be your friend

[cry baby]

1. oh, jeez, crying again...

beautiful letter from Susan T.

[coffeenap]

2. Thanks for posting--I think we all want to read what his

friends and coworkers have to say.

[sojourner]

3. Thanks for all you have done for Andy - both here AND in person.

I know that you and many others here were very important to Andy, and you have suffered a very real loss (we all have, but I'm just sayin') and my thoughts are with YOU as well as with Andy's beloved Termite and his family.

These memorials are a testament to Andy's reach and his appeal - and his ability to "move" people, all the qualities of a true activist. Hope we can rise to the challenge of carrying on the work he began (some of us, anyway -- I'm not sure I quite qualify though I'll still do what I can!)

[merh]

4. What a tribute!

:hug:


:loveya: Andy :loveya:

[Stephanie]

5. Susan is amazing!

What an incredible letter!

:toast:

[Generic Other]

6. Memorial scheduled for Sat. June 16

2:00 PM
Seattle Town Hall

Thanks for the info, Beth.

[Just Me]

7. Andy.

Left his light here before he went home. Amazing, isn't it.

[oldtime dfl_er]

8. I just hope he knew how much we all cared

I contributed to his fund, and will contribute to any memorial that is announced.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/654252

[EFerrari]

10. Thank you. I think Andy was in a way just much too modest

to know how we did care. But he did know in his own way, and it was sustaining to him.

Thank you for doing that for Andy.

:hug:

[meganmonkey]

9. Wow, we are lucky to have Susan on our side too

she's a hell of a fighter.

Her passion is tangible in this letter.

:patriot:

[troubleinwinter]

11. Thank you for posting this beautiful letter for us.

[EFerrari]

12. My friend in L.A. has sent George's tribute out to L.A. Greens. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Thank you for this.

No surprise to us (but I think it would have been to Andy): his memorials are remarkable for their sincere grief and respect.

Recommended.

[understandinglife]

14. Thank you Beth.

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Halt terror on America; begin by demanding Voter-Verified Paper Ballots.

[Melissa G]

15. Wow! ...Was on vacation..just heard.. Floored...Susan..

Thank you for all you did for Andy. It was obvious how much he cared for you. When I was talking to Andy in the beginning of this health crisis nightmare, besides Termite, you were the person he was talking about and expressing concern for even when he had no idea where work, housing, and health were going to come from for himself.
You were such a gift to him! You and your work are a gift to all of us. May all of us who grieve the loss of Andy, find some comfort in our memories of him and care and comfort of our activist community.

ANDY, YOU ROCK! Wherever your beautiful spirit has wandered, know that we who care for you hold you in our hearts in Love and in Light!
:loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::grouphug: :yourock: :grouphug:

[mzmolly]

16. Thank you Susan, thank you "sfexpat2000"

You suffered under the cruel and false aspersions cast
against you by Bev Harris, and a handful of others. Do
you believe that Andy was sick, now, Bev? Do you?! You
can call off the dogs now, Bev. Andy died. He is dead.
But you told everyone that he wasn't really sick.
People accused him of not being sick. Even some of
Andy's best "friends."

Bev owes Andy a public apology as do others who publically slandered him.

[Booster]

17. We can only hope that we all have a friend like you, Susan. Very

nice post, and, damn it, I'm crying again.

[Historic NY]

18. From the Seattle Weekly .....A fight to the end.

In person, Stephenson was a red-headed, crackerjack live wire, full of ideas and energy, chasing after every hint of impropriety by election administrators and the corporations that make voting software and hardware. During an interview, he would simultaneously smoke cigarettes, drink coffee, take phone calls, assign tasks to volunteers, condemn elected officials, and rail against Election Systems & Software, Diebold, and other voting-equipment corporations. He was a heartfelt advocate for his cause and didn't shy from confrontation with government officials and corporate officers. His passion and affability attracted a following here and on the World Wide Web, particularly among the frequenters of the progressive Web site Democratic Underground (www.democraticunderground.com).

http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0528/050713_news_andy.php


Saw this post and thought it should be here.

[SeattleGirl]

19. Thank you

for such a wonderful letter. I know this is still the immediate aftermath, but any plans to meet before the memorial? I plan to go. Even though I never met Andy, I followed his story, not only the voting crusade, but his illness. Just after he went into the hospital this last time, I PM'd him several times after his last email posted here, offering to fetch and carry, sing and dance, whatever he needed for his recovery. Sadly, I did not hear back from him...sad because the reason was he was not doing well. Merh said Andy was on heavy meds by then. So I did not hear back but I hope that even if he did not even get to read my messages, he at least "knew" on some level that I and so many many others were sending him positive thoughts and prayers. Something tells me he knew. Thank you again, Susan. What a wonderful friend you were (and are) to Andy.

O8)

[EFerrari]

20. a kick

[this_side_up]

21. What Is Dying? (Author: Anonymous)

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white clouds just where the sea and sky come down to linger with each other.

Then someone at my side says, "There, she's gone."

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her; and just at that moment when someone at my side says, "There, she's gone", there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "There she comes!" And that is dying.

Sail on, Andy.