(Most recent messages are at the beginning.)
Sat, 06 Jul 2002 06:21:17 -0400
Subject: Special blessings
One of the special blessings I received when Trim died was being
surrounded by my children at our son Jonathan's wedding. Jonathan
and Liz were married about 15 or 20 minutes after Trim died.
Fortunately, my wife Jean had just turned our cell phone off as the
wedding was getting under way and I did not turn it back on till near
the end of the reception a couple of hours later. Another blessing that
I received was that people reached out to me from my high school class
of 1956 at Central High School where my brothers and I went. I had
not seen most of them for 45 years, yet they reached out to me with love
and compassion which has deeply touched me.
I have been so thankful for the connection I have had through the years
with Trim. He played such a large role, often in unexpected ways. I
remember once when we were in Liberia. I had been playing hide and go
seek with our children. I had found a really neat hiding place in our house
and they couldn't find me. Finally I had to show them where I was. Then
one of our kids said, "Yes, but think about Uncle Trim: he's been hiding
from the FBI all these years and they have never found him!" I suddenly
realized that from our kids' perspective, Trim was playing this amazing game
of hide and go seek with the FBI.Torre Bissell,
torre.bissell@verizon.net
Tue, 2 Jul 2002 20:45:12 -0400
Subject: Memories of Trim
I was a college friend of Trim's at The University of Michigan-- we
were in the English program together-- but our lives intersected in
many different places. Trim, of course, was a focus of delight and
attention even then. What comes to my mind are the many occasions
on which Trim would simultaneously make fun of something and honor
it: the image of Trim sitting at Stevens Coop in the gloom of an Ann
Arbor fall night doing his imitation of Lead Belly's "Sal's got a meat-skin";
Trim tricked out with a fake fatal sword wound (sword still attached)
proclaiming the death throes of King Cambises during a discussion of
pre-Shakespearean drama; Trim coming into class five minutes before
the end, grinning and prominently displaying the completed paper that
was due that day; Trim reading Shakespeare on the diag, adding his
own poetry to the Bard's; having coffee in the Michigan Union
with Trim when he was teaching at Wayne-- and laughing together.
Despite the 35 year hiatus in our friendship, Trim had and has a
special place in my mind and in my heart and I will miss him. I send Trim's
family and friends my deepest empathy for their loss of him.
Basya Romanoff Gale
email: bgale@us.imshealth.com
Thu, 27 Jun 2002 08:56:45 -0400
Subject: In Memoriam
We have lost not only a friend, but a visionary, a leader, a beacon of
hope. Despite our loss, I am comforted by the Haitian proverb that
instructs, "we make the path by walking." Trim knew this, and his were
among the first few steps on the path. He knew thousands more would
follow, and the trail he helped to blaze would widen into a road to
justice.Fare thee well, Trim, on whatever path you now follow.
Steve Bennett
Witness for Peace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steven Bennett
Executive Director
Witness for Peace
1229 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
bennett@witnessforpeace.org
www.witnessforpeace.org
Sat, 22 Jun 2002 10:45:00 -0400
Subject: Condolences I have not seen Trim for many years, but I have always
followed what he was doing with great interest. Growing
up in Grand Rapids, the Bissell family was like my second
family; they were all a great influence on my life. I have
always admired their passion for just causes and for doing
what is right.My condolences to the whole family. May you find strength
in God's love in these difficult times.Marilyn Miles
miles.cats@tm.net/³\ - /³\
(~°õ°~)
> ^ <
Sat, 22 Jun 2002 10:25:41 -0400
Finally I am crying: I have put the business aside and I miss Trim.
Subject: Trim, my brother
Torre
From the Eugene Weekly:
Labor activist and artist Trim Bissell is gone and he will
be missed. He was one of our treasures, one of Eugene's
enigmatic yet influential individuals who manage to step up
out of the daily grind and live their lives with conviction and
integrity.
The Register-Guard did a decent little piece on Bissell on
the bottom of Section D June 18, noting at the end that sales
of his artwork will help cover his uninsured medical expenses.
Looking down from his cloud, Bissell is probably laughing at
what it takes to get his story covered. We hear former R-G
reporter Kimber Williams wanted to profile Bissell to support
the medical fund-raising, but R-G management canned the
story because Bissell was involved in fighting the R-G's
union-busting activities.
Others will carry on, Trim, and we won't forget you.
Thu, 20 Jun 2002 13:33:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: condolencesDear Ruth,
My condolences to you and your family in this difficult time.
I remember Trim from when I worked with CISPES in Oregon
during the late 80's. I hope you find solace in the strength of his
memory. His example inspires us all!!Sincerely,
David Fierberg
Tue, 18 Jun 2002 23:28:28 -1000
Subject: my sympathyDear Ruth & family,
I extend my sympathy to Ruth and family on learning of
Trim's death. We met while imprisoned at Lompoc in 1988
and 1989. Trim and I walked the track together discussing
political/social issues. I was in for an anti-nuclear swim for
peace in Hilo, Hawaii. Trim was a good and decent man with
a passion for social justice. It was an honor to have known
him and helped make the prison time more tolerable.More than a decade after our release I got an email from
Trim saying my name jumped out at him from some email
copy he was sent. I appreciated his note and being put on
the labor alert list. We will do our best to carry on in solidarity.Aloha,
Jim Albertini
Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box AB
Ola`a (Kurtistown), Hawaii 96760
Phone 808-966-7622
fax: same as phone but call first
email ja@interpac.net
www.malu-aina.org
Tue, 18 Jun 2002 11:25:44 -0700
Subject: solidarity foreverHello Ruth and Family,
Chad and I send you our deepest condolences.
We're sorry that we were not able to be with
you and Trim more in the last few months, but
we were with his extended family - the workers
of Indonesia. So many people in Indonesia always
ask me how Trim is, they all remember him fondly
as the person with lots of "semangat", that is
"energy" and "spirit". One worker in particular,
Haryanto, will never forget how Trim helped him
get his dignity and respect back at work and in life,
pressuring Nike to take full responsibility for an
injury that caused Haryanto to loose two fingers and
his job. Only after Trim took Haryanto on a speaking
tour of the US was he able to get his job back.I never had a chance to tell Trim how much he
inspired me to get involved with the United Students
Against Sweatshops, but I hope that my actions have
shown him that over the years. He was and inspiration
and empowering force for so many. I will do my best
to keep his semangat alive.Ruth, we would really like to come by and visit you
some time. Please let us know when you are accepting
visitors.Much Love,
Agatha & Chad
Mon, 17 Jun 2002 16:01:52 -0400
Subject: I am so moved!Although I have known of Trim Bissell as a labor rights
activist for years, I did not know of his art. As an artist
myself and one who uses art as a tool for solidarity, I will
forever be inspired by knowing about his life and his art.
I am sad to know that such a wonderful person has left
us here on our beautiful Mother Earth, but I think he will
be always with us in some other way.
Marilyn Anderson
Rochester, NY
Sun, 16 Jun 2002 12:51:06 -0700
Subject: Oh, Trim was a wonderful dancer!!Oh, Trim was a wonderful dancer!!
Somewhere, I'm guessing, he's dancing and singing to
labor music.
love to his family and friends!
Jeanine Malito
Sun, 16 Jun 2002 08:51:06 -0700
Ruth,
Just received the news about Trim. Here in the Nicaragua
he fought so long and so bravely for, we all send love. To
both of you. We'll keep the work going, and the art and
music too. Trim was never a slacker. Thank you for your
part in all our lives through him. One day we'll re-name
the so-called "Free Trade" Zone, Trim Bissell Park, and
there will be playgrounds and ponds, merry-go-rounds
and music, balloons and clowns. And we'll dance all together.Paul
Paul Baker Hernandez, Nicaragua Network, Nicaragua
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