On My Father's Passing
Miki, brothers, LiLi, family and friends
As you see I am in the middle in speaking today
Ross pointed out I had no other option
Of course he was right.
I had intended to come here on this sad
And inevitable occasion
And play Amazing Grace on the guitar
that my father bought me for my 14th birthday.
It is a song of redemption,
One he greatly appreciated
And had told me as much.
So I planned to play it for him
But we were on the road
And I didn't have that old guitar with me.
Besides which it takes nine minutes to play
And I will only speak for three.
So those of you who are inclined
Please imagine that this song
Is playing in the background
Somewhere about here (waving hand above alter)
As I finish these few remarks.
On hearing that my dad had passes
Our friend John Booth was deeply moved.
He said Stephen was an engine of invention
A freight train full of ideas, concepts and projects
Roaring down the tracks.
We agreed that it was a great ride to share
But you didn't want to get in the way.
Our friend Christopher then reminded me
That when talking to you all today
To think of all the lives
He touched, effected and changed.
I have.
Both said the world has been truly diminished
By the loss of his presence.
They are good friends and are both quite right.
This was a man of unique strength of will,
Tenacity and a relentless intelligence
With which he navigated our unknown waters
A fierce competitor on land, sea and in the air
He liked to win
and to be right.
And the things he created indeed touched the lives
Of several generations with more to come
And in doing so changed the world
Whether they knew him or not
Because this was a true scientist,
And in my estimation an artist as well.
From childhood he gave my brothers and me these instructions:
Duty first
Honor always
Self last
And as we may all three comment today on the many
Variations of this theme,
Mine is the short version that was posted
Above my desk
The elementary school version.
I have learned over a lifetime now
That he did in fact personify this challenge
And each of these aspects
In the service of his country
And the integrity of his thoughts and actions.
A true patriot.
A man of his word.
John Reeves, who is in effect my father's fourth son,
Called and said
This is truly the passing of an era.
He is right as well.
All I can add to this is my gratitude.
Thanks for the paints,
The sailor's knots,
And the guitar
Dad.
Stuart Cudlitz
From Funeral Service of Stephen Cudlitz
December 28, 2008
Salem, Massachusetts
Additional writing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cudlitz_(scientist_and_inventor)
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