Another funeral, and I (and the Democrats) lose another friend

[DFW]

I learned from DUer Blue Jessamine that an old friend, Catherine Baker-Knoll, passed
away this month after battling cancer. Typically, Catherine never even told me she was
sick.

Catherine was involved in Pennsylvania Democratic politics for decades, making an unsuccessful
run for governor in the 1990s, and ending up as the first woman Lt. Governor of PA under the
current governor, Ed Rendell. An early supporter of Hillary, she was a dedicated Democrat
and friend of the working class. When the Hershey Chocolate factory decided to close and
move to Mexico, Catherine spent a half hour on the phone with me to mourn not the lost revenue,
but the lost jobs of her fellow Pennsylvanians. She never lost her distinctive Pittsburgh
accent.

Catherine was always a people person, and very loyal to her friends. When my wife and I
celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, she sent us a big plaque in honor, and at our New
Year's gathering, she herded my daughter and Wes Clark together with me for pictures, Sure
enough, a month later, they were in the mail to us here in Germany. She never forgot anyone.
I never took her up on her standing invitation to visit her in the Statehouse in Harrisburg,
but I know she had meant it, and now I feel like a jerk for never having found the time. No
matter HOW busy she was, Catherine always found the time. When the Freedom Toast had their
first Washington live show, she drove down from Harrisburg to see it with me, and drove back
up there the same night.

Pennsylvania lost their Lt. Governor. I lost a friend, and so did every Democrat in her state.
She was 78. I never thought of her as old--she always seemed to have more energy than I did.
RIP a great Democrat.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

1. She sounds like a wonderful person

you were very lucky to know. Of course, she was lucky to know you, too!

K&R

[DFW]

7. Thanks for that. I still think I got the better part of the bargain.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Rest in peace. k+r, n/t

[Indi Guy]

3. You make me wish I knew her...

k/r

[sandnsea]

4. Sorry for your loss

and I don't mean to diminish your loss or her memory - but it strikes me that most politicians "always found the time". It is astonishing to me how much they do, every single day, from one end of the country to the other. The more I know of most politicians, the more impressed I become. I do not know where they get the energy and drive, maintaining such grace all the way through. Most of them deserve better from us, but I imagine they get enough thanks or they wouldn't continue. I certainly hope your friend did.

[myrna minx]

5. I am sorry for your loss.

K&R

[IndyOp]

6. Thank you for sharing your personal perspective with us. It matters tremendously

that we look for and honor the good people everywhere around us in these troubled times. She was clearly a tremendous role model for many people who will continue to do what they can for the good of us all.

I am glad that you got to have her in your life. I am sorry for your loss.

:hug:

[applegrove]

8. She sounds like a great lady. RIP

[DFW]

9. That she was.

I can't believe she's gone. She was like a solid rock fixture in my mind.

It's always a blow when someone like that, that you've known for a long time,
just suddenly isn't there anymore. PA will get a new Lt. Governor, but Catherine's
shoes won't be easy to fill. I wouldn't want to have the task.

[applegrove]

10. Someone who has positively affected you so much stays with you forever. Even after you have lost

them in one way.

[DFW]

11. Astute observation! n/t