[Vision2020] Phil Nisbet

[Joan Opyr]

On 3 Mar 2006, at 10:41, lfalen wrote:

> all
>
> I just called Phil to see if he had any ideas on a speaker for our 
> next grange meeting. His cousin answered the phone. She said that 
> Phill passed away last night from a heart attack.
>
> Roger

Dear Visionaries,

I met Phil Nisbet on this list not quite a year ago.  We began by 
arguing against, with, and then past one another.  But Phil broke that 
pattern.  He took a brave and admirable leap; he reached out to me with 
an olive branch in one hand and a book about Jewish women in the other. 
  We came to understand (if not always agree with) one another, and I 
liked him.  I joined the Grange because of Phil.  I became a devotee of 
Mike Wendt's pottery.  We shared music, and art, and literature, and we 
learned to fine-tune our arguments into friendly and constructive 
exchanges.  Phil wrote some excellent pieces for the Northern Idaho 
node of New West, and I found that he was a pleasure to edit.  He never 
took any of my changes or suggestions personally.  He was a good writer 
and a sensitive poet but he did not seem to suffer the burden of the 
artist's ego.  This made him a rare man indeed.

Phil was working hard to bring an exhibit about Iraqi Jews to the 
Palouse.  We talked about it often, both online and by telephone.  He 
had asked me if I knew anyone who would be willing to escort the 
exhibit back to London when the exhibition was over.  I suggested that 
he and I hop a First Class Virgin Atlantic flight together and paint 
the town red (Phil) and lavender (me).  He thought this was a pretty 
funny idea.  But then, Phil being Phil, he talked very seriously about 
the history of the Jews in England and about the London Synagogue.

Phil and I were working together on a piece about the Port of Lewiston 
and its management in light of the six-port east coast deal with Dubai. 
  He'd sent me a very detailed email about port management, and we were 
planning to meet and talk before I wrote the story.  I really can't 
take in this terrible news.  I have lit the Yarzeit candle, and I will 
say kaddish.  It's what we do, but it isn't enough.  I am so sorry for 
his family and children.

Ner Hashem Nishmat Adam
The Light of the Lord is the Soul of Humanity

Joan

Joan Opyr
Northern Idaho Editor
New West Magazine
www.newwest.net
www.joanopyr.com