Thank You

James Hewitt is not someone I've ever met in person. And yet, I feel
the impact of his existence here in CSE as if he worked just down the
hall.

I've known who James was since I started here in March. A topic would
trigger someone's memory - talk about bikes, or the tech support
group, or cheesecake, or...and I hesitate to admit I've seen this,
but...the Men of Sieg calendar. James was often a part of my CSE
history lessons, and it was clear that he was missed.

Last night, several staff members got together to remember James, and
to acknowledge that it had been a year since devastating news had been
delivered to the department's doorstep. At first I wasn't going to
go. I hadn't known James, and felt that this was a chance for people
to revisit their grieving - grieving that I hadn't experienced first
hand. But the fact is that I do know James. I know his friends.
They are people who have become my friends, and increasingly important
to me in the short time that I've been here.

How could I look into so many sad eyes without feeling the loss? How
could I read all these postings without shedding many tears? How
could I not go raise a glass to a man who made such a difference in
people's lives?

So to James I say thank you. Thank you for giving me a reason -
however sad and even painful a reason it might be - to get to know my
fellow co-workers (and therefore you) better. It seems that your
smile and your spirit are still infectious, still bringing together
members of the department, still a reason to celebrate life.

Thank you.

Jennifer Maione
Office Manager, Computer Science & Engineering
University of Washington
Paul G. Allen Center, AC 101
Box 352350 206-543-1495
Received on Wed Aug 11 2004 - 10:01:40 PDT