In Memoriam
We are very saddened to
announce the death of former Round Table president
and Barondess Lincoln Committee Chairman Len Rehner.
He died suddenly on December 1st after a brief
illness. He was an always enthusiastic and dynamic
force in the club, helping to arrange meeting places,
suggesting speakers, recommending new books – he was
also part of the Fletcher Pratt Committee – and
thinking of new ways to promote the club.
Up to the end, he was
planning the February meeting and was so excited to
have obtained the presence of Sam Waterston as the
2011 award winner (although it meant changing the
meeting date from Feb. 9th to Feb. 16th to accommodate
Sam’s schedule.) He also brought us the invaluable
presence of Rochelle Schumer, his loving companion of
many years, who has been secretary and facilities
coordinator for the Round Table, and who cared
devotedly for Lenny to the last. We
will miss him very much. We’ll think of him
in February and whenever we hear the music Lenny,
a producer/promoter in his other life, adored or we
hear about Abraham Lincoln or the latest in Civil War
news or literature.
Major New Gift!
OUR BENEFACTOR - DR. MARK
ZIMMERMAN, D.O.
The
next 5 recipients of The Barondess/Lincoln Prize will
receive a bronze Lincoln sculpture. Dr. Mark Zimmerman
of Vero Beach, Fla. has generously pledged to donate the
sculptures cast from the April, 1860 Life Mask of
Lincoln taken by Leonard Volk. Dr. Zimmerman, the owner
of the mold, has established a foundry to make castings
for sale to the general public. The sculpture sells for
$5,200 and may be seen on the web at:
www.touchingthefaceofhistory.com.
Dr.
Zimmerman will attend our February meeting to explain
the history of the Lincoln Life Mask. The Round Table is
profoundly greatly for both the suitability and
generosity of this gift. Our Prize now has a symbol
worthy of it.
OUR
FIRST ENDOWMENT!
Dr. Jeremiah Barondess
The
Benjamin Barondess Lincoln Prize has received a matching
endowment grant from Dr. Jeremiah Barondess, President
Emeritus of the NY Academy of Medicine. In existence since
1962, the Barondess/Lincoln Prize has become one of the
nation's most coveted and honored awards for Lincoln studies.
In order to keep its future bright, Dr. Barondess has
pledged matching funds to enhance and double our own endowment
efforts. The Round Table's founding funds were increased
by generous gifts from Director, Harold Holzer, Treasurer,
George Hornburg and our Corporate friend, The Ridgewood
Savings Bank. Bravos all around.
THANK
YOU!
Tawani
Foundation
Edward
C. Tracy the Executive Director of Chicago’s Tawani
Foundation forwarded a sponsorship grant to develop our
speaker program in the amount of $1,000. The Foundation
is dedicated to supporting efforts to commemorate the
services to the nation of the citizen-soldier. It is most
gratifying to receive such a vote of confidence when our
club has no track record in receiving institutional support.
We know that this trust will not be misplaced given our
stellar speaker programs. Perhaps, too, the record of
this sponsorship will encourage others to support our
passionate endeavors to not let slip into oblivion the
memory of our nation’s Civil War Thank you again
Tawani Foundation for your generosity!
Library!
What Library? Our Library.
Yes
indeed, the CWRT/NY has a library and it now has a permanent
home.
Officially
called "The Library Collection
of the Civil War Round Table of NY"
the beautiful subscription library of The General
Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen at 20 West 44th Street,
Manhattan, has given our club valuable shelf space
within its general library.
Located
along "club row" in midtown, our membership
can now access their own collection along with that of
the general library. For our members only, $25.00 per
year gives you a library and a great place to break up
a busy day with quiet, beauty and a good read.
Also,
you get the world's most beautiful library card!
P.S. It has been the
novel not movies or non-fiction that has generated the
most interest in the Civil War. A brief alphabetical by
author list follows:
1. Don Bannister. "Long
Day at Shiloh"
2. John Brick.
"Jubilee"
3. Shelby Foote.
"Shiloh"
4. M.A. Harper. "For
the Love of Robert E. Lee"
5. Thomas Keneally.
"Confederates"
6. Margaret Mitchell.
"Gone With the Wind"
7. William Safire.
"Freedom"
8. Jeff Shaara. "Gods
and Generals;" "Last Full Measure"
9. Michael Shaara. "The
Killer Angels"
10.Tom Wicker. "Unto
This Hour"
