I had every intention of this post being a continuation of my thoughts on Laudato Si and what Pope Francis means to the environmental community. But then Friday happened and I had to write something else. I had to write this.
I arrived with my wife at 9:20am. We had talked about it, and being 40 minutes early made the most sense considering what the crowd might look like. It turns out that decision was wise. By the time it began, people were standing anywhere they could. Only the first ten rows or so on the right side were empty. They would be filled in a moment, but I noticed that the absence of people in that one part of the Church was fitting, almost poetic.
It was a visual representation of the absence we were all feeling. We had lost a friend. For me, I had lost a mentor as well, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who thought of him that way. My reflection soon changed, though. As his family entered and filled those pews, it was a reminder that the emptiness of our sorrow was temporary. It would soon be filled by the joyful memories of a life well lived. And in that way, through our memories of him and through the loving reflections of his remarkable family, Joe was with us.
Joe Ledlie passed away on Christmas day. You can find his obituary here, and I urge you to read it whether you knew the man or not. I cannot improve upon these words, but will add a few more as my own personal tribute to one of the finest people I’ve known.
Joe was a man deserving of respect. He was accomplished. He was talented and principled. He was an outstanding journalist and a better thinker. He loved his family dearly. He was a man of God.
I respected Joe for all of these reasons. But I’ve saved the one reason that made him unique, at least in my mind. And it’s this quality of Joe’s for which I am most grateful, because his example has made me a better person in life.
For every ounce of respect that you offered to Joe, he returned it to you tenfold. He saw so much potential in every person he met, and he wasn’t shy in saying so. Joe truly, and deeply, valued other people. He taught me that I could learn from and be inspired by everyone I met, whether they were a grandmother, executive, homeless person or second-grader. And it’s all because Joe was humble.
Yes, this is an environmental blog. But what motivates me, and I believe most environmentalists, are the people whom we love. We work for others, both those living now and the generations to come.
I loved Joe Ledlie, and I love his family. We have lost a good one, and this world is a better place for having had him the last 72 years. For that and so much more Joe, I thank you.
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