About David Rodeback (a life in lists)

4 thoughts on “About David Rodeback (a life in lists)”

1. 

   Matt Fisher says:

   Did you write the article “Searching for Joe Pinney”? If so I might have info for you. My dad went to school with him and I might be able to point you to people who knew Joe.

   1. 

      David Rodeback says:

      I did, and I’d love to connect. Thanks for reaching out. I’ll e-mail you …

2. 

   Monica Dickinson says:

   Hi David, I didn’t know how else to reach out, so I hope you don’t mind my leaving a comment here. I just read your opinion piece in the Lehi Free Press, and it was so lovely. I just purchased a copy of Katherine Paterson’s book about Jella Lepman, and I’m eager to learn more about her story. It seems like the intersection of a few of my great loves — libraries and getting books in the hands of children (I teach summer book clubs for children and currently serve on the Lehi City Library Board), beautiful picture books, and stories about the heroes who emerged during the atrocities of the Holocaust. Thanks for pointing my attention to that book.

   But mostly, I just wanted to attest to the healing power of reading. I lost my dad last July, and in the months since, I have found tremendous healing in books. Books about how to process grief and loss, books meant to serve as an escape, and especially the books that my dad loved best and shared with me. My dad was an avid reader. He read numerous books a week in the early mornings. Even though he was physically unable to read at the end of his life, he insisted that shelves of his favorites accompany him in his room in assisted living. In his obituary, we referenced how those books were like cherished friends watching over him in his final days. We asked, in lieu of flowers, that any wishing to honor him donate to their local library, share a favorite book with a loved one, or read to a child. I recently inherited six copy paper boxes full of my dad’s treasured books. It’s his birthday this month, and I’ve decided that every year leading up to his birthday, I will honor him by reading one of his most beloved books — works by Willa Cather, Wallace Stegner, and Wendell Berry, along with books by leaders of the Church. To me, in these early stages of grieving my dad, reading feels most healing.

   Appreciated your thoughts on a topic I hold dear. Look forward to reading more of your work here. Thank you for putting into words the feelings of my heart. I looked at the online version of the Lehi Free Press to see if there was a digital copy of your article that I could share, but I couldn’t find it there. Do you have a link for a digital version I could share?

   1. 

      David Rodeback says:

      Monica, thanks for reading my little column, for your kind words, and especially for sharing your—and your dad’s—story. Sorry to take so long to reply; too many deadlines, etc.

      A fine insight: “I have found tremendous healing in books … especially the books that my dad loved best and shared with me.” And books (and reading to a child!) in lieu of flowers for his funeral? I absolutely love it.

      I don’t have a link for you right now. Both the American Fork Citizen and the Lehi Free Press have been posting my columns online, but when they do it during the month varies. I post them here at the end of the month, after their readers have had a chance to read them from the Citizen and the Free Press first. (I got a little behind, but I caught up through March the other day.) I’ll post a link in another reply to your comment when I add this month’s column, but just in case, here’s a category page that collects them all.

      Thanks again, and best wishes.

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