Today was the Memorial for my friend, Michael Ford, at Xavier University in the Board Room. Though the weather was awful, about 40 folk showed up, from Columbus and here, and Jerry Springer was in town to do the eulogy for his best friend.
Many people there I had not seen since everyone scattered after Jerry left City Hall the first time. We had mostly kept up with each other, though, via word from friends. And the local political group of course – we see each other around.
I had seen John Patrick Gilligan, the Governor’s son, at his father’s funeral in the late summer. Almost unchanged from those long ago days. Tom Collins, one of Jerry’s guys, I had not seen since – still cute, as I told him. Tim Burke and Gene Beaupre, two more of Jerry’s team, I see fairly often. Hadn’t seen Snowman – John Snow – sort of Jerry’s bodyguard back in the day – since 35 years ago.
And Jerry – what a treat to see him! He was wonderful – his love for and appreciation of Mike palpable on his face and in his voice. Lots of good words from folks at Xavier – one of Mike’s teachers, Xavier’s president, and most wonderfully, an intern who had worked with Mike at his Center for the Study of the American Dream.
A wonderful gathering for us, an wonderful good-bye to Michael.