Remembering Tom, by "Zalman"
Tom Lapic, someone who helped us out with school matters on a local and federal level, despite many challenges, was an impressive man, a former member of the clergy, who understood our all out daily battles for funding, acceptance and operational goals. We bumped into each other in Office Max in St. Paul and he warmly greeted me asking how things were. We asked for many favors, and Tom graciously considered and worked on each request, asking for nothing back. His loyalty and kindnesses will endure.
On a personal note, I'm a staunch conservative, however I was always impressed by the acceptance and respect shown by Tom, Paul and Sheila. It was never an issue and both parties should learn from their abilities to put aside differences and work on dealing with the issues at hand.
On the fateful day of the plane crash, I immediately left a message on Tom's voicemail expressing our shock and extending an immediate offer of any assistance to help with Jewish burial rites and assisting in cutting through any red tape. I learnt many hours later that loyal Tom was with his boss, and maybe his hero, until the end.
Remembering Marcia, by Emily Hultman:
The most influential person in my life, my mentor, died on that plane on October 25, 2002.
Marcia Wellstone Markuson (known to me as Profe, Spanish for teacher) was one of the most beautiful and caring people I have ever met in my life. I had her for Spanish when I was in 11th grade, and continued to be her teaching assistant three times before graduating from high school in June 2002. When I didn't know what college to go to, she told me to go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison (her alma mater) and to major in Spanish. She also told me that my junior year I should go study abroad in Madrid, Spain for the year, just as she had done.
We bonded because we were around each other every day, and I began to look at her more as a friend than a teacher. She always managed to cheer me up when I was upset about something, and always knew how to make me feel better. She had told me that she was going to take the fall semester of 2002 off in order to finally be able to help out on her father's campaign. She had told me that she had missed out helping out on the campaign trail the past two times due to school and her pregnancy with her son Josh. I kept in touch with her over the summer, and received my last letter from her 10 days before the crash.
Now instead of dwelling on the sadness I feel every time I'm reminded of the crash, I try to remember all that she's done for me. I am now a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and will graduate in the spring of 2006 with a triple major in Spanish, international studies, and political science with hopes of continuing on to graduate school. Furthermore, I am currently studying abroad in Madrid, Spain for the year. It makes me happy to know that I am doing exactly what Profe had wanted me to do, and I like to think of her smiling down on me whenever I'm walking along the streets of Madrid, the place she always told me she loved.
I hope that others were able to get to know her as I did, and appreciate what a beautiful person she was. You couldn't find a kinder, more supportive teacher than her. She was an amazing person, whose presence I miss every day. There's no doubt in my mind that if I hadn't known her my life wouldn't be where it is right now, and I could never thank her enough for giving me what I now have.
Gracias Profe, por todo me has ensenado, todo me has dado, y el efecto que has tenido y continuas a tener en mi vida. Eres la razon que yo he hecho todo que es importante en la vida, y no pasa ningun dia cuando no estoy pensando en ti. Siempre estaras en mi corazon, y nos vemos en el cielo.
Remembering Mary, by Megan Thomas
The toughest part of that
day two years ago was not knowing for several hours if my friend Mary
Mac was on the plane. When her name was finally realeased it was like a
train hit me in the chest.
Mary was one of those amazing people
who seemed to have an inexhaustable supply of energy. Looking back I
think it was just that she fit a lifetime of energy into a life that
was too short.
I think of her every day driving to and from
school, mainly because I drive up Ayd Mill Road. Mary was opposed to
connecting this road to the interstate on the south end and I supported
connecting it. Even though we were on different sides of this issue she
never personalized it.
Even though I met Mary through politics
the best example of her character I have is related to her work at the
University. At the time Mary was the Chair of the Educational
Psychology department and I was the Executive Director of the Graduate
and Professional Student Assembly. Over lunch during a political
convention we were relating our week's struggles and I mentioned that
the University had made a change to the benefit structure for Graduate
TA/RA's that would result in some students losing their benefits. As
the person in charge of the budget for her department Mary's first
reaction was not about the numbers or such. Instead her first concern
was "how am I going to get these students their health care coverage?"
At
the, now infamous, memorial service at Williams Arena there was one
moment during President Bruinink's eulogy of Mary that Mary would have
cracked up at. The line was "Mary would have wanted that way" but on
the computerrized voice recognition closed captioning it came across as
"marajuana that way."
I miss Mary every day. I know that there
are people who miss Tom and Will everyday too. As we all remember paul
and Sheila today please also remember the tremendous talent and spirits
we lost that day every time you hear the words "and three staff
members".
Remembering Will, by Dan Kelly
I can't say that I knew
Sen. Wellstone on anything but a distant level. Like many, I was
inspired and moved by his passion and commitment to fighthing for those
that didn't always have a strong voice in Washington.
I had no
doubt about how incredible of a man Sen. Wellstone when I saw the
people around him, especially the one that I knew the best, Will
McLaughlin.
Will has an amazing guy, with more heart and
passion than just about anyone I've met. He knew how to work hard, but
to keep his battles in perspective and always have a good time, even
during the most serious of work. During his time working with Sen.
Wellstone, Will was immensely proud of the work he was doing, and
seemed full of energy despite the long and grueling hours.
I,
and many, many, others, grieve Will's passing. I take some solace i
knowing that in his time here, he was able to spend some time with one
of the most amazing leaders of our team, and one of the greatest groups
of people that ever got together.
Will has inspired many of us.... we'll be sure to Stand Up and Keep Fighting.