[NFBWATLK] Mike Freeman

[Marci Carpenter]

Hello friends,

I am having a really hard time this week. On Christmas Eve I lost a very good friend, Mike Freeman. I spent most of last week calling and emailing others to let them know of Mike's death and taking care of some details. Now it is hitting me hard. Mike led the way on most pieces of state legislation creating and preserving rights for blind children and adults in the last 30 years. He supported and taught me in many ways. He could be very gruff and sometimes disagreeable, but underneath he had such a big heart. I have met few people who truly believed in and cared about blind people as Mike did. He was always generous and supportive of me and others who were experiencing personal difficulties. It is going to be hard to be in Washington DC without him later this month. He attended every NFB Washington Seminar from the early eighties until last year when the snow kept him from going for the first time. I really need my Federation family right now. I really miss my friend.

Marci