IN MEMORY OF CLIFF F. KENNEDY, 1944-2001
[All of the following material was originally published in the September/October 2001 issue of THE THOUGHT]
GOODBYE, FRIEND
By Ronald C. Tobin
I was told, as this year 2001 started, that it would be a better year that the year 2000 was. Well, it is not over yet, and the year has certainly had its share of good times, but so far I would have to say that the pain of loss has muted much of that pleasure. I am hopeful, and we shall all see.
Today, however, for the second time in print, I am saying goodbye to my very good friend, Cliff Fairn Kennedy. My first written memorial to Cliff was put together at a Kinko's in downtown London, Ontario, in the late morning of 12 June, 2001. The place was practically empty, and I was glad of that, because by the time I had finished putting that article together, tears were streaming down my face. That memorial will be appearing in ALIAS, and I trust I will be seeing it soon.
Two months have now passed since Cliff's death. The pain, for me, has subsided, but the emptiness, of knowing that I will never hear from him or see him again, never again read a new article or story by him, never benefit from his advice again, that remains. I wonder if that ever really goes away. I shall find out.
Cliff died on May 27th, just nine days prior to my scheduled arrival date for my annual summer trip to Canada, which was June 6th. I knew of this tragic event the morning of the 28th of May, thanks to Bonnie Briggs and Nick Gurevich of the ALIAS Collective. Thanks again for keeping me informed, Bonnie and Nick.
It had been my plan, as previously arranged with Cliff, to once again speak to the ALIAS Collective at the Fred Victor Centre on Friday, June 15th. With Cliff?s death so recent, I truly felt it was essential that I go through with my planned visit, even though the topic I had planned to discuss (longevity in the small press) would obviously be tabled. I found a group of people coping as best as they could with this tragedy, determined to carry on. I think they will be successful in this, and that would have made Cliff very happy.
I spent the evening talking to Sara, Cliff's widow. We shared memories and I gained a deeper insight into the man that I called friend for many years. Sara is a strong and brave woman, and I wish her all the best.
A final point regarding my visit with Cliff's friends and family on June 15th - Cliff was, as per usual, involved in many different projects with several people at the time of his death. I did not come away with the impression that Cliff was in any rush to tie things together. I don't think he was expecting to die. Heck, he was only 56 years old (he would have turned 57 on October 9th). Few people in this day and age expect to die at 56. That's not even old.
Cliff Kennedy was a very good friend. He and I first crossed paths in the late 1980s. He sent me his publication first, then I sent him mine. In those days we would write actual letters to each other from time to time. I enjoyed his style, and even when I disagreed with him I respected and understood his position. Cliff was a very practical, down to earth man, which made him a valuable friend to a more theoretical type such as myself. He and I fell out of touch from mid-1993 to the Summer of 1997, after which I resumed operations and he was in touch with me via e-mail rather quickly. He was among those who were enthusiastic about my return to the small press. I was glad to have his support. He also became an Associate Member of the Philosophers Guild, and I became an honorary member of the ALIAS Collective.
I finally met Cliff in June of 1999, during my first trip to Toronto. I saw him again in June of 2000, that time also having dinner at his home and meeting Sara for the first time as well. The plan was to be similar for this visit, save that this time I was going to buy the beer and I was finally going to get a picture of Cliff and myself together. Unfortunately, death dictated otherwise.
I know Cliff would be embarrassed by all of these tributes to him. He never sought the limelight. He was actually SURPRISED when he was named the recipient of the Friend of Philosophy Award earlier this year. He deserves this recognition. He earned it.
Goodbye, my friend. Thank you for having been a part of my life. The tears have returned, so I will sign off now and let some other folks say a few words.
BE IT KNOWN TO ALL: ISSUE #126 OF THE THOUGHT IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CLIFF F. KENNEDY.
Rest in peace, good friend.
TO CLIFF KENNEDY
By Christopher J. Berry
Dear Ron,
I didn't know Cliff as well as you, but you can get a good glimpse of someone by his or her writings. Identifying with the author, we forge a relationship only through written word. To put it bluntly, it sucks that there will be no more writing.
Cliff had a great way of cutting to the heart of it all, and I could most always identify with it. I feel like that gerbil or mouse, worked like a sled dog by my employer, and lost in a world of think alike, SUV driving, Gore/Bush touting fools that he would mention.
Drink a toast tonight friends, hold your glasses high for one hell of a good person, writer, and friend.
CLIFF KENNEDY:
A BRIGHT LIGHT IN THIS WORLD
By Bonnie Briggs
A light has gone out in this world, a light that is rarely seen. It belonged to the kind of person that is not often found in today?s society. It belonged to Cliff Kennedy. He died in hospital of a heart attack on Sunday, May 27,2001. He was 56. Cliff worked at the Fred Victor Centre in the Community Computer Club and in Alias, Fred Victor's newsletter.
Cliff truly was a bright light. He shone the most when he was helping people use the computers and do their writing. He was happiest when he was around computers, his first love. He was always ready to lend a hand if you were having a problem with the computer. He always had time for the members of the computer club and for anyone who needed his help. As other people have said, he was a "hands-on" person, sitting down beside you at the computer to straighten out whatever the problem was. Cliff was very knowledgeable about computers. People often asked his advice on what programs were the best and how to perform certain tasks on the computer. If anyone asked Cliff how to find something on the Internet, his stock answer was "do a search". He strongly believed in using search engines to find things on the Internet. He liked to share what he found on the Internet. Many times, he invited me to look at some neat new thing he had found on the Web.
Cliff was also an excellent and prolific writer. I have read several of the articles and stories he has written for Alias and they were truly inspiring. He gave tips on writing several times and was instrumental in helping me get my poetry book published. He was always encouraging me to keep writing and to continue to improve my writing. When he started the Thursday book-writing group, he strongly encouraged me to get involved and finish the book that I had started to write. He even helped me to pick out the font for the title page. I will be dedicating The Squat to Cliff and also to David Maltby, a photographer friend of mine who died the week before.
He had a great sense of humour. He was always ready with a one-liner. Cliff kept us all in good spirits with his positive attitude. Very rarely did you hear him say anything negative. He laughed a lot, even when you came into the computer club or into Alias in a bad mood, he soon had you smiling. He cared about the people in the groups that he was involved with. He had good leadership qualities. He knew how to defuse a tense situation. He was firm when he had to be. I think I only heard him get angry once or twice. He tried to avoid that as much as he could. Cliff cared about homeless and poor people too. I don't know if he was ever homeless himself, but the concern was evident. We often had discussions in Alias about homeless-related issues and you could tell that he was concerned about them.
Yes, Cliff Kennedy was truly a bright light. I am so glad that we crossed paths. I have to thank John Laliberte for introducing us when I was beginning to put my poetry book together. That's how I met Cliff, through Alias. Cliff told me that I had to be a part of Alias to get Poems From StreetLevel published. So, I started going to the meetings and I never looked back. Since then, I have become involved in the computer club and the Thursday book group. He has helped me many times with my writing and with learning about the computer. As The Squat has gotten longer, Cliff kept encouraging me. "It's getting there, you're almost finished." Cliff truly has enriched my life and I am proud to have known him. Goodbye, Cliff. We will miss you. The world is a little darker with you gone.
MEMORIAL FOR CLIFF
By John H. McKay
Ron:
Unfortunately, my article has not come along the way I thought it would so I have abandoned it. However, as promised, here is a memorial for our friend Cliff.
It is truly tragic that we must say good bye to a wonderful human being. I have enjoyed reading his articles as they always came from the heart. Cliff did a wonderful job summing up a friend that he had known for at least 20 years, Ted Plantos. Those that read the commemorative edition of The
Thought can relate to what I am talking about. I am proud to say that I voted for Cliff Kennedy to take the Friend of Philosophy Award recently (although everybody else on that list was deserving as well). I am sorry that I did not have the privilege of meeting Cliff and getting to know him personally. At least I did get to know him through his writing. There is no doubt in my mind that Cliff will be missed by many. Thank you for sharing your greatness with the world, Cliff!!!
A FAREWELL TO CLIFFORD
By Leland W. Ruble
Dear Ronald:
It is with profound regret and sadness to note the tragic death of Clifford Kennedy. He will be sorely missed in the coming months. His many publications over the years, were interesting, provocative and illuminating. He was in my estimation a very generous, sensitive and intelligent individual. His generosity was exemplified in his thoughts and reflections on the sorry plight of civilization. He will be missed. I suspect that there are many who benefited from his kind, generous nature. His occupation was involved in helping those less fortunate and adrift in this sometimes brutal, callous world. There are many, many individuals whose lives were changed by their acquaintance with Cliff.
As for myself, I was often inspired and touched by the astute comments and statements that emerged from Cliff's alter ego. This was the witty and shrewd character Fido Dogstoevski, whose observations on the human condition always made me stop and reflect -- for better or worse -- on the terrible things that motivate governments and nations to suppress individual freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Fido would say, this form of incarceration is accomplished by ludicrous laws, lunatic legislation, religious zealotry, and judges, who, as recently as this last election, gave the presidency of this country to a man those right wing, hard core ideology borders on the absurd. We also have a Congress dominated by right wing zealots whose main ambition is to turn back the clock and recreate America in the image of 17th century Puritanism. Fido would reflect on this state of affairs, and question the sanity of bureaucrats without any concept of what true democracy is.
Clifford was an excellent writer and was possessed with the enthusiasm of the poet, writer and artist, daily engaged in finding sense in a world that thrives on the inanities of nonsense. I hate to say good bye to someone who invested so much of his spare time in improving the publication of zines, booklets, books and tracts, that possibly moved someone, somewhere, to stop and think of a more compassionate world. So long, Cliff. Your memory still lives on in our hearts and minds.
Leland W. Ruble
Freethought Perspective
833 Orchard St.
Toledo, OH 43609
IN MEMORY OF CLIFF F. KENNEDY
By Dorothy B. Thompson
Artistic and creative - strong!
With such a friend one can't go wrong.
Service to others every day,
Especially those who could not pay.
A quiet unassuming man
Who daily stuck right to his plan,
To fight misfortune on the street.
Just helping made his life complete.
Oh, how he loved the written word!
He published thoughts before unheard.
Cliff loved the creatures, and was kind.
A better man one cannot find.
We're glad we knew you, our dear friend.
You lived a good life, start to end.
MY ACCOUNT OF CLIFF'S FUNERAL
By Bonnie Briggs E-mail: [email protected]
The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze blowing, not the type of day to go to a funeral. But we went anyway to Cliff Kennedy's funeral. He had died on Sunday, May 27,2001 from a heart attack at the age of 56. My friend, Tiffani, my husband, Kerre and I arrived at the Fred Victor Centre early so Kerre could sign the condolence book and so we could meet with people before we left. After talking with friends, we climbed on to a small bus and we were off. At first, the driver wasn't too sure how to get to Kingston Road United Church where the service was to be held, but with a little guidance from us we were on our way. We talked about Cliff on the way, sharing our memories and our shock at his sudden death.
The bus arrived at the church just as the hearse containing Cliff's body arrived. I was asked to usher people into the parlour while they got the church set up for the viewing. We all either talked in the hallway outside the parlour or sat on the comfortable chairs in the parlour itself. I introduced Kerre to my friends at the church. As we were sharing our thoughts of Cliff, the women of the church busied themselves setting up the refreshments to be served after the service.
At last the church was ready for us to go in. We walked in and saw two tables set up on either end of the plain wooden coffin. These tables held many pictures of Cliff and the other people of Fred Victor. There was an inflatable rocket on the table at the far end of the coffin with a toy rocket beside it. There was also a toy alien beside it. The coffin was closed. There were copies of Alias spread on the table as well as copies of a tribute written by Cherie-Lynn. On the other table was a visitors' book, which we were all urged to sign. Behind the coffin, there was a ghetto blaster sitting on another table playing some of Cliff's favourite music by Bob Dylan. They even played "Knockin' On Heaven's Door!" I thought, "what an appropriate song." There were flowers everywhere. People mingled and looked at the pictures while we waited for the funeral to start.
At first, I wondered why the coffin was closed. I had been told that visitation was from 12:00-1:00. My interpretation of visitation is the coffin is open for people to view the person and say goodbye. But the coffin was closed for the longest time. At last, I noticed that the lid had been raised. Kerre, Tiffani and I went up to pay our respects as well as some of the over 100 people who were there for the funeral. Cliff's family was standing near the coffin as we came up. The guys who had been guarding the coffin wouldn't let us come near the coffin saying it was only the family who were allowed to see Cliff. This really made us angry.
I told him that we were part of Cliff's extended Fred Victor family. We had to go back to our seats. Finally, the family was finished and I could see a bit of Cliff from my seat. Kerre and I both stood up to get a better look. That's when it hit me that Cliff was really gone. I sat down crying next to Kerre. Then someone behind me said that people were going up to the coffin. So I went up and finally said goodbye to Cliff. I returned to my seat crying. He was dressed in his usual sweater and jeans, looking like he was ready for another day in the computer club. There was another toy rocket in his coffin. Cliff loved Science Fiction and anything to do with outer space.
Finally, they were ready to start the service. Rivkah, the pastor of the Kingston Road United Church, welcomed us all and said that she was glad that so many of us were there to honour Cliff. She said that there would be a number of speakers and that there would be an open mike to allow other people the time to share their memories of Cliff. First, there was a song by a man named Tim. He sang, "This Little Light of Mine." After Tim, there were a lot of speakers from the Fred Victor Centre. They all spoke of how Cliff had touched their lives. A common theme was Cliff's helpfulness, friendliness and how he never spoke badly of anyone. They also spoke of Cliff?s unselfishness, willingness to give of himself and his knowledge of computers. I was one of the speakers, the second one actually. I read a tribute I had written to Cliff. I spoke of a few of Cliff's attributes, many of the ones expressed by the other speakers as well as his sense of humour and the fact that Cliff was a bright light and that the world is a little darker with him gone. There was another song from Tim to end this portion of the service.
During the open mike section of the service, Kerre got up and read from the March/April 2001 edition of The Thought from the Philosophers Guild. Kerre read that Cliff had received the Friend of Philosophy Award for 2001. He also pointed out the two banners, which were hanging from the ceiling of the church. One said "Share The Gifts" and the other one said "Serve With Love". "Cliff did both of those," said Kerre. Everyone agreed with him. This section ended with us singing a song from the hymnbook. Rivkah came down and stood by the coffin, led us in a prayer and ended the funeral. We all stood up as the coffin was wheeled out of the church on its way to Mount Pleasant Cemetery for cremation. We had been told that his ashes were to be sent back to Nova Scotia because that was where Cliff was from. I waved at the coffin as it passed us and again cried on Kerre's shoulder. We then retired to the parlour for refreshments. There was coffee, tea, and punch as well as sandwiches, cookies and cakes for us to eat. Kerre circulated and spoke to several of the people who were there as well as some of Cliff?s family. Sara's mother came up and introduced herself to me and thanked me for reading my tribute. Many of the people at the funeral liked what I had read.
Cliff will be sorely missed. It will be hard to fill his shoes, but we will try. There is a move within Fred Victor to rename the computer room in Cliff's honour. The next issue of Alias will be dedicated to Cliff. I think one of the best ways we can remember Cliff is to help each other in the computer room just as he did. Cliff's death was sudden and hit us all hard. I know it's going to take a long time for us to get over losing such a wonderful person. But he would want us to carry on. Alias met last Friday, June 1,2001, to discuss how we could honour Cliff and what the future of Alias will be. Next week, the Thursday book group will do the same thing. I think several of the people in the Thursday book group who are writing books will be dedicating their books to Cliff as Kerre and I plan to do. Yes, Cliff Kennedy is gone, but not forgotten. He will live on at Fred Victor and in our hearts. Let us help each other as he did. Thank you Cliff and goodbye.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
By Ronald C. Tobin, Editor & Publisher
I thank everyone who sent me memorials to our good friend, Cliff Kennedy. Should anyone else out there want something brief published in memory of this truly great individual, do feel free to send them.
I especially thank Bonnie Briggs for providing us with her account of Cliff's funeral. I was assured by a very reliable source that the delay in the viewing was simply a legal matter, and that no insult was intended to Cliff's extended Fred Victor family. I hope this will allay any lingering hard feelings out there.
I was truly honored by the fact that Kerre, Bonnie's husband, read from the March/April Thought that Cliff had received this year's Friend of Philosophy Award. The Guild was with them in spirit, even though I could not get there in person.
The last issue of THE BLOTTER that Cliff was working on just prior to his own death had the theme of Life After Death. He wanted me to contribute a new vampire tale to that issue. Had Cliff not died, I most surely would have done exactly that. I understand that Cliff's widow and some of his friends WILL be putting out that issue in the near future. I'lll have to see what I can come up with. After all that has transpired, a vampire tale just seems like too lighthearted a piece to contribute to such a theme issue.
With all this in mind, we now will get into the more 'normal' content of the magazine. I know that is what Cliff would want. He'd probably tell me to edit this tribute to him out, that he was just a guy doing what he thought was right. Well, friend, I just did what I thought was right as well. You deserved all of this and then some, old friend.
Rest in peace.
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