Thursday, July 29, 2021
Lydia sparkled There was a light within her when we met as second graders on Osage Street in Maplewood Park, and it continued to shine brightly all through our three years together in Honors English with Evelyn Kaufman at Stow High School. Lydia helped me understand Beowulf (ick!) and Moby Dick (ugh!) and I passed on to her clandestine copies of The Catcher in the Rye and D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love, which we explored together over many hours in each others basements. Remember those dreaded Iowa Tests aimed at measuring our youthful I.Q.s? I was a nervous wreck for days before they were administered, but not Lydia. Then again, why would she be? She always scored around the 98th percentile! Lydia went on to live an adventurous life of profoundly unique experiences, with many dear friends, and, of course, her beloved horses, dogs and cats. In recent years, it was such a joy to spend time with her and Carl when I came back to Ohio to visit. Her original intelligence, courage and outspokenness were still wildly alive within her and it was always a joy to talk - about high school days, current politics, and all of life's many challenges - the dark and the light of it all. She was so happy to have found a peaceful and loving life with Carl.
Dear Carl, long before Lydia, you were a special part of our family, and my loving thoughts are with you at this time. To Jeff, Eileen and your families, again, my loving thoughts and deepest condolences are with you all. -- Denise Helton
