Sister Marietta, CSJ RIP
With a few notable exceptions, I have had a great fondness for the English teachers of my formative years, among whom was Sister Marietta Kuczynski, CSJ, who graduated to glory on September 19 at the age of 92.
Sister Marietta presided over us at SMI in eighth grade, 1964-65. I recall her as being personally delightful, full of whimsy, and if there was a hard edge to her anywhere she never revealed it. She was a native Amsterdamian, though she hadn’t attended St. Mary’s. One of her classmates at Wilbur H. Lynch High School had been a fellow named Isadore Demsky, Izzy to her and Kirk Douglas to you.
Under her tutelage I produced an epic one page novella, The Monster Visits the World’s Fair, which would have made a terrific Ed Wood movie (perhaps I’ll post it in the comments section after I get home if I still have it). Her continuing encouragement caused me to break out in new directions on my own, and in an incredible burst of genius I also authored that year my first musical, Don’t Cry Over Spilled Nitro, or Bye Bye Laboratory. Characters in that play, Russian spies Gherman Shnitova and Vladimir Isnovitch, moved to England the following year in my magnum opus musical North Atlantic, music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by moi.
Eighth grade marked the last vestiges of childhood innocence, transitioning rapidly to puberty and high school. Perhaps that is why I remember it so fondly. But it helps to have fond people to remember.
Her printed obituary states, “A diligent worker with a generous spirit, Sister Marietta leaves a legacy of devotion to faith and family and kindness and compassion to all.”
That’s about right.
Eternal rest grant unto her, o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
J.M.J.
+
The Monster Visits the World’s Fair
The World’s Fair brings joy and happiness to many people. To others it brings excitement. But to me it brought the greatest adventure of my life.
It was a warm July day as I began my private tour of the New York World’s Fair. The Pavilions were fascinating. After many hours I sat in a secluded spot behind one of the pavilions marveling over the wonders of our age. A soft, gentle whirr caused me to look at the sky. A strange type of craft was landing. As a door on the craft slid open I recognized the passenger as the three legged, one armed, headless monster whom I had met last winter in a startling adventure. As before I sat there petrified. Some strange force pulled me into his craft. He spoke to me through mental telepathy and told me that he was spying on the progress of the earthlings. I quickly ran over to what appeared to be a weapon. As I pressed a button on it a force threw me out of the craft. As I lay half stunned the craft took off as gently as it had come.
Yes, some people went for excitement. Others for joy and happiness. But few stories of the World’s Fair can compete with the one about the three-legged, one armed, headless monster from another planet.
Robert Going
8B