As we prepare for next week's 14th Annual Educational Tour of Alaska for Grantmakers, we remember the special connection between Ted Stevens and this annual event: in its earliest years, the invitation to attend was sent by him from his office. This poem, written by Diane Kaplan, honors the life and accomplishments of Senator Ted Stevens.
Participants from the 2006 Educational Tour of Alaska for Grantmakers: bottom row l-r: Joan Gagliardi (Charlotte Martin Foundation, Seattle); Senator Ted Stevens; Jonathan Stevens (Bertelsmann Foundation, DC); Steve Gunderson (Council on Foundations, DC); top row l-r: Ed Rasmuson (Rasmuson Foundation); Alison Bernstein (Ford Foundation, New York City); Gara LaMarche (Atlantic Philanthropies, New York City); Michael Balaoing (Entertainment Industry Foundation, Los Angeles); Alicia Westmoreland (New York City); Gabriella Morris (Prudential Foundation, New Jersey); Diane Kaplan (Rasmuson Foundation); Norman Volk (John Hartford Foundation, New York)
Ted, you made Alaska proud
Never rattled, never cowed
You gave your life to make us great
To give us one terrific state
The neediest, you’d not ignore
You’d find new ways to help the poor
Shelters for the most abused
Treatment for the ones who’ve used
Water, sewer, power too
Helping all, not just a few
You used the greatest common sense
To give us all a strong defense
You did what all Alaskans wish
By making sure there’s lots of fish
Education, health care too
Wouldn’t be much without you
Housing for our senior folk
Help from Eek to Kake to Tok
Public radio and art
You did it all with lots of heart
You’ve left Alaska well-endowed
Ted, you made Alaska proud
7 Comments
Posted by Joan Gagliardi
Diane,thank you for the pictoral reminder of our wonderful visit to your beautiful state. The amazing sights, people and organizations experienced on the Funders Tours will always be with me. Senator Stevens was a truly memorable example of the strength, kindness and hospitality of Alaskans, and your poem memorializes him so well. Joan Gagliardi, Charlotte Martin Foundation
Posted by John Castles
Diane: great poem! You have a wonderful knack for remembering the best about people you know and memorializing them in poetry. I didn’t have the privilege of meeting Uncle Ted, as you and many Alaskans fondly refer to Senator Stevens, but his handprint is all over your great state. Thanks for continuing the Funders Tour of Alaska. As a grateful alum I have fun memories from the one I participated in. It was a chance for me to get all around Alaska and meet many fine people and their organizations. Thanks for all you and your team does for so many in Alaska and elsewhere.
John Castles, Murdock Trust
Posted by Ian Dutton
Great poem Diane and a most appropriate recognition of Sen Stevens remarkable service and legacy – we’ll greatly miss his national leadership on fisheries and oceans issues and (as your poem cleverly notes) his pragmatic approach to dealing with those issues here in AK.
Ian Dutton, Alaska SeaLife Center
Posted by Patty Ginsburg
Lovely.
Posted by Jeff Cook
Diane,
Thank you for your tribute to Senator Ted. I was 10 when he came to Fairbanks in 1953 and I have a lifetime of wonderful memories. My Mom was Ted’s secretrary when he was U.S. Attorney in Fairbanks and one of my sisters worked for Ted in D.C. after her college graduation.
My best memory of Ted is from December of 1989 when the volcano blew near Anchorage and the airport was shut down there. I needed to come to Anchorage the Sunday after the airport was closed so picked up a rental car at the Fairbanks Airport to drop in Anchorage. Before leaving, I checked to see if I could find a rider to keep me awake on the drive. A plane had just arrived from Seattle that had to be diverted to Fairbanks because it could not land in Anchorage. The first person off the plane was Senator Stevens. He jumped at my offer for a ride to Anchorage where he was to speak at the Anchorage Chamber the next day. He did not want to ride the bus! I had the privilege of having Ted with just me for 8 hours. We talked about family, Alaska, the Nation, our hobbies and our dreams. I really came to know Ted as a compassionate, caring man who put love of family first, followed by love of Alaska and all its people and the nation. I treasure the memory of that long ride and the hand written note he sent afterwards, which I am so glad I saved.
Jeff C
Posted by Carol Comeau
Diane,
This is a wonderful poem and picture. We also need to thank him for his extraordinary efforts on behalf of girls and young women of all abilities with his leadership and advocacy for Title IX! When those of us old enough to remember when we had NO opportunities for competive sports in schools, we can educate our girls and young women today that their opportunities are endless because of “Uncle Ted’s leadership and advocacy!
Carol Comeau, Anchorage School District
Posted by Michele Miller
Nice tribute to our beloved Senator, Diane.