Monday, November 14, 2011

Farewell to an old dear friend

SACRAMENTO -- I was back in California's capital city Monday to say farewell to an old, dear friend, Tim Hodson, who died recently of brain cancer.

This was the right place to be today.

His funeral was held at the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and the pews were packed in the huge cathedral.

We heard about Tim's character, his impact on public policy as a senior staff consultant in the State Senate, and his mentoring and educating students at Sacramento State where he headed the California Studies Program. We also heard about his love story with Ruth, his wife. I've known both of them before they got together.

We also heard about his faith, his hope for a better world in this world, and his faith that we will see him again, made new, healed of his disease.

Earlier in the day, I got to spend a little time with Ruth. We took her dog for a long walk in Land Park where we've been neighbors for years. This was the right place for me to be.

I am on my way back Monday night. It was good to be here, and it will be good to be back in Charlottesville.

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California State University Sacramento created a special page about Tim. It is entitled "Remembering a Campus Visionary." You can read it HERE.

1 comment:

Janice Dean said...

We recently lost a beloved Professor in the UVa Astronomy Department, Bob Rood, who was Chair when I began as a work-study student my first year. I have great empathy for how you and Tim's other friends, colleagues, and students must be feeling.

I am particularly grateful this year for the Ofrendas in the Nave. I plan to add a photo of Bob today, and I hope you will add something that reminds you of Tim. It is a wonderful way to remind us of the joy that these people shared with us, even as we now try to navigate through our grief.