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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ JUNE 15, 2016 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 RYAN CRONK , EDITOR Opinion E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE For the Siuslaw News _____________ H e looked just like any ordinary Joe, with his brown shoes and Knox fedora. Like most men of his era, he went to war, to work and to church. Unlike them, he helped Mom with the laundry. But that’s not what made him so extraordinary. There was something about Dad that touched people’s hearts. Maybe it was the gentle calm under the warrior’s tough exte- rior, the radiant smile belying endless tragedy or the surprising softness under the machismo of a Pearl Harbor survivor. Whatever it was, everybody adored Dad, but perhaps no one more than his pig-tailed little girl who loved to snap photos with her Brownie Starmite camera as he banged out newsletters on his Underwood typewriter. Dad encouraged me to write and remained the sole lifetime member of my “aspiring author” fan club. One day he called to check on my roller-coaster economic status as a freelancer and fledging attempts to publish a book. “How’s your finan- cial situation?” he asked hesitantly, knowing it would proba- bly lead to another emergency loan. “Uh… well, there never seems to be quite enough to go around.” I could feel him frown 2,340 miles away. Next question. “How’s your creative writing going?” he asked, referring to every reporter’s dream of trading fact for fiction and obituaries for fantasy. My answer echoed the financial one. “Uh… well, there never seems to be quite enough time for the book.” Time and money. Weren’t they every writer’s eternal lament? “Never ever give up!” Dad declared. “Always remember your dreams and keep them alive.” A perennial optimist, Dad taught me the importance of embracing life’s challenges. “Don’t ever let things get you down,” he said. “Only in the darkness can a candle shine its brightest light.” That’s probably how he found clever ways to support his four siblings at age 12 when his own father died in a sudden acci- dent during the Great Depression. And how he won a Purple Heart in the Army Air Corps for rescuing his crew after their B-17 was shot down. And found time to orches- trate community fundraisers, parades, vol- unteer committees and charity events Dad would also find spare change for a homeless person or family in need. “Don’t ever let things get you down. Only in the darkness can a candle shine its brightest light.” —JOE ROURKE “If you have just one piece of bread, tear it in half and give the bigger slice to the other guy,” he would say. In Dad’s world, getting something back was never part of his equations. Dad wasn’t a rich man. In my eyes, he was a millionaire who bestowed to his chil- dren a mighty inheritance of wisdom, EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM DEAR READERS A candlelight remembrance vigil for the victims of Sunday’s shooting at an Orlando nightclub is being held tomorrow, June 16, at 9 p.m. in the labyrinth behind St. Andrew’s Church, 2135 19th St. –Editor Joe Rourke (with Catherine, age 2) supported his family as a boy during the Great Depression and won a Purple Heart in World War II. Dad C ATHERINE J. R OURKE ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ courage and love. While he couldn’t afford to give us cars or college tuition, he lav- ished us with far better gifts. For me his generosity was his calm lis- tening ear and gentle advice, or the way he mediated with teachers and boyfriends on my behalf whenever I found myself in a pickle. And there were other riches too: his collection of Celtic plaid ties that were never quite knotted right and the way he wrestled with tangled Christmas lights and home movie reels. Such things seem trite during the course of our young lives, yet years later these nostalgic memories of our fathers become priceless family heirlooms. From car crises to collect calls (remem- ber those?), how do we thank our fathers for all those countless times when we just don’t know what we would have done without them? Dad’s most unforgettable gift arrived in a totally unexpected way. Many years ago I found myself in between freelance assign- ments, down to my last dollar and too proud to call home. Then an unexpected letter appeared from Dad in my mailbox, which read: “Always keep your chin up and keep in good spirits. Expect a miracle. And never ever give up.” Enclosed was a check for $5,000 that he had just won by playing my birthday num- bers in the lottery. Dad didn’t even keep a single cent for himself. “Never ever give up!” Those inspiring words meant even more than the cash that accompanied them. The money is long since gone, but the real jack- pot was a father’s message of love and encouragement that filled my cup and heart forever. In life’s most difficult moments, I have read those wonderful words from long ago PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE ROURKE as a powerful reminder of Dad’s undying love. Even though Dad and the money are but a memory, his spirit still breathes in that beautiful letter that remains my most price- less possession. Dad loved books and newspapers, instilling in me a passion for writing and journalism. Thus it was a poignant moment when the word of his passing arrived at my newsroom desk just as we were sending another paper to press. While he lost the battle against cancer, he had won the war with his selfless devotion to family, country and community. In a fitting tribute to his life of service, Dad was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Struggling to pen his eulogy, I wrote: “You can take all your great heroes — your generals and your gurus, your statesmen and your saints, your popes and your prophets — and still, all dim in com- parison to the humble greatness of a loving father.” The best way I can honor my dad is to live like him — fearlessly and optimistical- ly, always striving to do the best, giving lavishly, wearing a radiant smile, lending a hand and believing in miracles. What is the legacy your dad has bequeathed to you? This Father’s Day, for- get all the ties, techno-gadgets and grilling gear and celebrate the gifts he has given you. Even if you never knew him or he wasn’t the world’s greatest dad, perhaps you can find some hidden treasure he bestowed upon you, such as forgiveness, compassion or strength. If he’s still around, tell him how much you appreciate him. I was lucky to have that opportunity before our final farewell. A father’s love never dies. If he has passed on, think of it not as the loss of a parent but as the gaining of an angel who never ceases to watch over you. Even if he did screw up now and then. Happy Father’s Day to all you wonder- ful dads out there. Keep your chin up and keep in good spirits. Expect a miracle. And never ever give up. ______________________ Catherine J. Rourke is an award-win- ning writer, journalist and book editor who teaches creative writing at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance. She may be con- tacted at CJReditor@gmail.com. USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2016 © Siuslaw News Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ryan Cronk Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Advertising Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affecting the Florence area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed let- ters must be signed. All letters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters as well as poetry will not be published. All submissions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com.
