Kim Kudym
Dear Anne Marie and Erin, I was a friend of your dad's when we worked together at the Leahy School, and then at the Arlington School. In fact, I attended your grandmother's funeral several years ago with a couple of other colleagues. When he moved to Newburyport, we occasionally commuted to work together, but eventually we lost touch with each other after I resigned from the Lawrence Schools and took a job in another district. I think he retired around the same time? I'm writing to express my condolences to you both. I lost my mother last year and know that the loss of a parent is such a huge loss, no matter what your relationship was with him or her. Your dad was quite the character anc I'm sure, caused you plenty of angst and grief as his illness progressed, yet I hope it comforts you to know how much he spoke of you both. He absolutely adored you, and told everyone he knew about you, including shopkeepers in downtown shops he befriended throughout his years in Newburyport. I work with the wife of the guy that runs a frame shop on Pleasant Street and one day we discovered in a conversation about the Lawrence Schools that we both knew Ed Ryan. My best memories of him were at work. He always had something funny to say that uplifted our spirits in a pretty grim place to work at times, especially the Arlington School. I always enjoyed his humor and his stories. I'm sorry I was unable to attend the service this morning. I wished I could have expressed my condolences in person. In friendship, Kim Kudym 44 Hale St. Newburyport, MA 978-462-2973