Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Lynn
My heart is filled with rich memories of your mother. I recall my first meeting her. Grover invited Janet and I down from Connecticut to a Columbia football game with Dartmouth at Baker Field. It was one of those rare times when Columbia had a good team. Grover introduced us and we were much impressed by Ilse's New York elegance. I thought of Grover as the recipient of a huge gift in Ilse. I further remember times when as two couples we would get together and go out and eat in the City. particularly I recall one restaurant called "The Four Seasons". Very classy it was, but then your Mom and Dad appreciated classy places, being class people themselves.
Then there were the days we spent together at Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Lot's of memories. Many experiences to recall with relish. I became aware especially at those times of the gift of patience your Mom had with your Dad. It was a continuing characteristic she had, and a pleasure to behold. Your Dad gained great delight in spending large amounts of time brooding over the wine list at the beginning of the meal and then scanning the check at the end in minute detail. One occasion was in Provincetown where I recall Ilse saying at the conclusion of the supper, "Let's go out and wander the town while we allow Grover to sit here with the bill as long as he wants."
Two other highlights: One is Ilse's devotion to her calling to be a teacher and then an administrator at the school in Astoria Her doing that for all those years was phenomenal. What an immeasurable impact she had on so many lives, in the thousands.
And how many of those years your Dad drove her to school and back every day. It was a mark of his devotion to your Mom which I saw she returned in full again and again. Then I must add that whenever I talked with Ilse she always made sure to speak of the church where she was involved. It was without fail a MIssouri Lutheran Church, and again how fruitful it was for her. All packaged as a proud refrain. In her words I saw a persistently vital faith in God enhanced by her life in her church
The mention of faith leads me to recognize that I would be remiss if I did not say that faith and faithfulness were primary concerns of Ilse's life. I think it is clear to us all that to her being faithful to family and loved ones, the church, and other institutions such as the school, and the nation, were absolutely critical...Ilse believed that you made promises to what you held dear and then you held to them no matter what.
Memories of your mother, Lynn, are etched on my heart. I write about her, which inevitably includes writing of your Dad, as I can't help but see them as a team, two together. I write with a smile, then a tear, then another smile. One more dear friend passing from this world. Ilse's passing is a loss for me. I admit it, as I can only imagine Lynn, how much it is a loss for you. My trust is in the marvelous love of God that I know even death can not sunder. I believe that is also your confession. How good How that brings peace to the saddened spirit..
With much affection,
Jim Silver
