Justice Scalia Passed Away 2016

I don't usually talk about news items on the blog. I certainly didn't know Justice Antonin Scalia personally, so I debated writing about his passing. However, it's been very much on my mind for the last few days. Justice Scalia was the most conservative justice on the Supreme Court and as such, I've never agreed with him on much. Nonetheless, I was saddened to hear he passed away for a number of reasons. Of course, I was sad because he was a person, not just a Court opinion, and of course I'm very sorry for his family.

Also, although he went to Harvard Law, he was formerly a UVA Law professor and he remained loyal and helpful to UVA. I saw him speak at UVA Law in 2008 and while I vehemently disagreed with the content of his talk, I was still grateful that a Justice of the highest court had come to talk with us and that I was able to go. I also saw him in Supreme Court Oral Arguments, twice. Once while I was a college student at GW and once while I was in law school. He was intense! Better to live out your convictions than to sit silently.

Justice Scalia  giving a talk at UVA Law in 2008 (with Dean Jeffries)

In 2006, someone got him to briefly participate in a skit via video recording for the Libel Show. It was really funny. And how awesome that he did that for us?

 

Justice Scalia in the Libel Show 2006

Justice Scalia has also had a number clerks that were UVA Law students. One of these students was my friend Donald who had the huge honor of clerking for Scalia in 2012. But more than that, Donald and his wife Sarah got to know him personally and he was always kind to them. Scalia also had yearly events for his clerks so everyone stayed in touch through the years. I'm truly sad for them to lose him in both a professional and personal capacity.

Donald and Sarah at the Supreme Court on a weekend in 2012

when Donald was still clerking. Sarah was pregnant with William.

Last weekend, Donald also participated in the ceremonies where Scalia is in repose in the Supreme Court while the public is invited to pay their respects. President Obama and the First Lady also came to pay their respects right before Donald was slated to stand at the casket. The First Lady looked noticeably teary-eyed, and it was really moving to see real affection between public servants despite opposite politics in such a politically divisive time. Both Donald and Sarah, and a number of UVA Law professors attended the wake and funeral.

Scalia's former clerks on the steps of the Court as casket is brought in on Friday (on CNN/CSPAN)

Which is all to say that I am very sorry for the Scalia family, so many people in my law school community, and Donald and Sarah in particular.

Cape Cod- June 2015

The kids were extremely excited to go to the Cape. Specifically, James was very excited to go see Grandma and his "best friend" Ellen. Miranda didn't totally understand what was going on, but she knows that suitcases mean someone is going somewhere, so she decided to spend the entire day sitting in the suitcase so that no one could leave without her. In an act of solidarity, James joined her.

M and J's reaction to a suitcase.

I wish Miranda's enthusiasm had carried over to the actual car ride though. She cried so much in one leg of the trip that we had to pull over to pacify her. And then she thanked us like this:

Smart ass.

But at last we made it! This was a big trip because my mom also joined us, and together we went to Truro for my Grandmother Catherine's very belated memorial service. She passed away in December, but the family agreed it was best to do the service over the summer. We had a full Catholic mass, I did the eulogy, and her other three grandkids Graham, Rachel, and Griffin did some bible readings. Afterwards we went to the cemetery to place her in the family plot with Grandpa Jim, and Uncle Kevin.

Our contingent before we left for Truro

Grandma Catherine's family: Maura, Rachel, Graham, me Richard, mom, Elaine and Griffin

That took the better part of Saturday but we had until Monday at dinner to enjoy the Cape. Aunt Nesie, Aunt Mary, and Great Great-grandma Ruth babysat for us, we had lunch with my mom, hiking with Kevin's mom, and the kids spent lots of time at the pond.

Aunt Nesie showing Miranda how to pet Harry

Aunt Mary snuggling the kids

Great Grandma Ruth attacks with a teddy bear!

A little quality time with Nana on the deck

Hiking with Grandma

Lots of time at the pond on different days:

James and Ellen sitting on the water (adorable)

Miranda rocking her new bathing suit

Drying off at the pond

We also got to visit with Uncle Steve, Uncle Chris, and a few of Grandma's friends on the Cape. And James got to play with Ellen every day we were there. A very busy trip!

Uncle Chris entertaining Miranda

Miranda, James, and Ellen playing with Grandma's mini iPad

Playing doctor

Grandpa Buff 2011

Last Saturday, Kevin's grandfather George passed away at 93 years old. He was extremely well-loved. He was the last grandfather Kevin and I had and one of the best men I have known. I am certain he is one of the reasons Kevin is such an amazing husband and father. At his wake and funeral this week, I felt proud that James is his great grandson.

This is what Kevin said about him the day of the funeral:

By anyone’s estimation, my grandfather’s life was an overwhelming success.

George Altimus Rogers was married for over sixty years to a woman who cherished him so deeply she withstood thousands of hours of sports she did not care for and pretended not to understand. Only occasionally—when the table was set and dinner was warm—would she say, Turn off the idiot box, Buffy.

He had four children—Nesie and Mary and Dick and my mother—all of whom were by his side when he died. He had four grandchildren—Katie and Chris and Andrew and me—and one great grandchild, all of whom visited him during his final days. He owned a business, ran a farm, and served his country overseas. You are not likely to meet someone else who can say this.

He was the only Red Sox fan I know who was alive when the team won the World Series in 2007, 2004, and 1918. As a kid, he crafted wooden nickels in shop class to circumvent the turnstile and sneak into Boston Braves games. The last time we spoke, he had opinions about the Patriots’ defense.

Everyday he listened to an AM radio older than I am and read two newspapers. Until it was no longer possible, he kept himself fit playing golf and gardening. His mind he kept sharp with crosswords. He told me he liked all of the presidents. For decades, he sat in a comfortable chair beside my grandmother and looked at peace.

My grandfather attended my graduations and my wedding. When my son James gripped his finger, he called him Jimmy. My grandfather and I had an entirely uncomplicated relationship. He treated me with respect, and I respected him tremendously. When someone lives a life as long and rich in meaning as my grandfather did, you feel very grateful and, for a time, you feel very sad.

I will miss the earnest greeting he unfailingly delivered to me—and then my wife Ericka and later James—when we came to see him. I will miss the reverence with which his chair was treated—both in the living room and at the head of the table—and his perpetually stained slacks. I will miss his indifference toward those stains. I will miss the long silences my grandfather and I shared waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball to the batter. I will even miss the fable of how he ate every part of the apple, though I suspect my grandmother will keep this story in circulation.

I will miss a lot of things about my grandfather because there were a lot of things to appreciate and to admire. We will all miss him and, in doing so, we will honor what a great grandfather and father and husband and man he was.

With his kids and grandchildren in 2007


At our wedding in 2009


Celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary in 2010


Meeting his great-grandson James in 2011


James's fourth trip to visit his great grandpa and our last photo together

Chrissy's Mother Maureen 2010

On Monday my friend Chrissy's mother passed away from adrenal cancer. I am incredibly sad for Chrissy and her family. I am sad for everyone who knew Maureen. As a teen I spent a lot of time over their house.  She fed me dinner on countless nights.  I used to travel and sit with Maureen and her husband and watch Chrissy perform in concerts.  She even co-hosted my Sweet Sixteen party.  She was a wonderful person, not just to me, but to everyone who knew her, and we will all miss her deeply.

Update: Her wake and funeral were beautiful and touching. Hundreds of friends and family came.You could feel how loved she and her family are.