HILLEL I. SWILLER

SEPTEMBER 1939-MAY 7, 2023

A saddening shock

to learn of your

passing A man

with the appearance

of a teddy bear

sometimes wearing

a beanie and

jacket in the

cold New York

winter with a

friendly smile but

a smart teddy bear

You were funny

earthy smart but

also conservative

Yet I was not

uncomfortable

but wishing to

disagree like

your family

over the invasion

of Iraq How

I first met you:

San Francisco

1965 as a

ward clerk at San

Francisco General

Hospital

As an intern

you advised

another doctor

to work in

Southern California

based on his

conservatism

Then I saw you

at a demonstration

against the Vietnam

War In 1967 we

met in the Russian

Tea Room when you

protested the

Fugs We later met

in Philadelphia in

1970 and then

in 2003 for more

than a decade over

lunch at the Century

Club and other

restaurants for

exchanges of

feelings/thoughts I

knew of your illnesses

to my sadness

but I can also

appreciate your

caring for others

in the midst of

your diseases

Your love of your

wife and family

was always

evident I

learned of your

passing on the

month of your

birthday Eight

months older than

you we are both

children of the

Second World War

Sadly I did

not see you in

New York this year

But I knew that

you could not

receive me Yet

my memories

of you are

indelible Thank

you so much for

our time together

While we were

distant I still

knew you to the

point of sadness

I want to see

you again and will

mention your name

at Shabbat on

these High Holy Days

Your memory is a

Blessing

Herbert J. Weiner

September 18, 2023