Editor’s Note
Back in the old days — that’s less than a decade and before there were such things as blogs and interactive conversations with readers — editors used to respond to their newspaper readers with an “editor’s note.” Sometimes it clarified a point made in a letter to the editor. Sometimes it offered a correction. Sometimes it was just a simple explanation. An editor’s note was a handful of sentences; maybe a four or five paragraphs. It was always a personal link between the editor and the reader. Only difference between it and today’s blog is the immediacy and the platform. Welcome to Editor’s Note.

Lou Spencer lived his life large

August 4th, 2008 at 05:36pm Linda Grist Cunningham

Lou Spencer, 64, was buried today. I miss him. You may not have known Lou, though thousands of Rock River Valley people did. Probably make that tens of thousands. I didn’t know Lou anywhere near as well as they did and I make no claims on our connections. But, Lou needs a permanent remembering, something that will make the cyberspace rounds forever to come.

Here’s my simple connection to Lou: My husband and Lou were Scout masters together for years. Lou and Sally’s five sons, and our one son, grew up together in Scouts. Early on, back in the first of the 1990s, when Lou found out I was the editor of the newspaper, he made it his mission to keep me on the right (and I do mean right) side of the political fence. He’d call me for what seemed like every Saturday morning, sometimes correcting some editorial position we’d taken; at others pointing out story ideas, sources and connections we needed to check.

Lou would open each conversation with: “This is Lou.” And, anyone who has ever heard him say those three words, knows exactly what they sounded like.

This is Lou, and off he’d go. Until one Saturday, I begged him to please call me at work rather than at home. You see, Lou, I said, sometimes I just need a couple of hours when I get to be wife and mother and not newspaper editor. He understood. He still called, thank goodness, but he split the calls nicely from work to home.

Lou lived his life exactly as we are supposed to: with gusto, with God at the center and family all around. Ask him for help, and Lou dropped everything to lend a hand. In all those Scouting years, if Lou ever said no, I can’t remember it and I doubt others can. Can do; will do; did do. That was Lou’s way of living. Sally’s, too. Their five boys, though they certainly are no longer so, will, I am sure, do no less.

In an earlier post, I shared the Ogle County fair queen’s question: “What would this world be like if everyone had your attitude?” Lou would know exactly how to answer that: “This is Lou.” Godspeed, friend.

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2 Comments Add your own

  • 1. John Longhenry  |  August 4th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    I was sorry to read about the passing of Lou Spencer in your column today as I too remember him very fondly. I knew Lou not only though our scouting connections but we also worked together at Sundstrand so many years ago. Lou was truly a dedicated Scouter who believed that Scouting could make a better life and country not only for his sons but also everyone elses. You capture him very well in your column and I too add my condolences to his family on the passing of a great Scouter and human being.

  • 2. Paul Prohaska  |  August 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    Lou’s passing really affected my family. Lou had great influence on my son, Graham. When Sharon and I needed help to “nudge” Graham along, we’d make Graham think it was his idea, and send him to see Lou. Lou would use his special ways and motivate Graham. Lou’s friendship and guidance led Graham to chose Lou as his Confirmation sponsor. We are so lucky that we had Lou, as well as Mr. C and Mr. D, to assist Graham on his path to attain the rank of Eagle.

    Speaking of Scouts, whenever, and it was a very rare whenever, Lou didn’t make a campout or outing, we all felt something was really missing. He was a fixture in Troop 139, leading expeditions to Wright-Patterson, New River Rafting, Boundary Waters, Philmont and Maquoketa Caves. He had a style all his own! Ed, Ted and I would shake our heads in bewilderment at some of his antics, but Lou ALWAYS succeeded in producing a great outing.

    I hope that everyone who was touched by Lou Spencer will try to be as thoughtful and giving as he was of his time and tallents.

    God must have needed a mechanic, carpenter, wood chopper, firebuilder loyal husband and dedicated father pretty badly to take Lou from us so soon.

    Geez oh man, I am really going to miss you, Lou.

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