Sid Bacon

Success

By Bessie Stanley

To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of the intelligent people

and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty;

to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

to know that one life has breathed easier

because you lived here.

This is to have succeeded.

Sid taught us all how to succeed.

To striving to live like Sid.

To laugh often and much.

– Liz Bacon

How lucky Walt and I were to have Sid--and later Sid and Cathy--in Omaha several times in the early years of his career.  We all loved Sid’s wickedly dry sense of humor.   An example that comes to mind is when a group of us helped move him into a top-floor apartment with no elevator and narrow stairs on a hot summer day.  We knew we would be hauling the same stuff back out within the year. In particular,  we were complaining about a  large wooden (non-working) stereo console.   He assured us that, indeed, his only criteria for selecting furniture was whether it was heavy enough.   Another vivid memory is a gathering in Sid and Cathy’s apartment when Laura was barely walking and Dan not yet born.  Laura was crawling on Sid’s lap and pestering him for a sip from his nearly empty balloon wine goblet.  Sid finally relented and held the glass near her for a pretend sip.   The next second we all gasped to see a perfect little semi-circle chomped out of the glass.  A rare moment when Sid was not his usual calm and collected self.  No harm done except jangled nerves.  Sid was a valued friend, an outstanding scientist and a fine human being.  We will miss him and cherish all the good memories of times together.

– Donna Neff and Walt Jesteadt

Memories have been running through my mind.    I remember your wedding day.  I remember the night of Dan’s birth.  I remember Laura in her little pink bathing suit splashing with Dave in the kiddie pool on our deck.  I remember your apartment in England and getting caught in the pouring rain when out touristing.   I remember when Sid was trying to cultivate smoking a fancy pipe. I remember so many talks and posters and discussions of science with Sid.  The years have flown by.  He didn’t get all the years he deserved, but what a life to be proud of.  And how lucky he was to have you and the kids support him during this tough battle with the cancer.  I hope we will get to visit with you in person one day soon.  I have retired, so I don’t go to many meetings, but perhaps I should tag along with Walt to AAS if it provided a chance to see you.

Here’s to you, Sid.  You have been a tremendous inspiration to me, and to many others as well, and I am privileged and thankful to have known you.

You were my earliest academic auditory hero.  I was inspired by your research, and in particular by your empirical thought processes and how well you expressed yourself in writing.  I loved reading your work because your narratives were clear and direct.

I clearly remember the first time that I met you – at ARO in Phoenix.  I can picture the conference room, the long isle of posters, you standing toward the end, chatting with Craig Champlin, who was the person who introduced us.  I was so excited to meet you, and to speak with you, and then so pleased to discover that not only were you “normal,” but additionally that you were exceptionally kind and engaging.  It was a hell of a first impression, and I have never forgotten it.  Nor will I.

Your spirit simply is contagious.  I have followed your experiences over the past 19 months, and each day I looked forward to reading your next blog – primarily because it was so inspirational.  Many times I was taken aback by how positive you were, how you remained focused on the many blessings that you have enjoyed throughout your life.  Your perspective almost seemed surreal – impossible to muster in the face of that pernicious disease – and yet you offered it to us with honesty and grace.  I learned many important lessons from you over the past several months, and I cannot thank you enough for allowing us all to be with you on your journey.

If I can be half the man that you are, endowed with half the strength of character, I will be a much better person than I am today.  Thank you for being you, and for being an exemplar of a life well lived.

Dear Cathy, Laura, Dan and Liz,

May you find comfort in knowing how much we all care about you and Sid. Thank you for including us in your family's incredible battle, a journey of life lessons that I will keep close to my heart. May Sid rest in peace and for all of us, may we always remember his kindness and the positive difference he made for so many.

With heartfelt sympathy,