In Memoriam: Minette Long Munson 8/15/1919-6/14/2010

I’m Seana Munson, and like many of you, I wear a lot of different hats. I’m an actress, musician, writer, and I spend a lot of timewith low income AIDS patients. But today I am simply, and PROUDLY, Minette’soldest granddaughter.

As you know, Gram was a teacher. Her subject happened to be biology, but I’m sure that if I came around to ask, each of you could name that one favorite teacher who supported you, motivated you, and made sure you succeeded, no matter what subject they taught. I came to realize years ago that Gram WAS that teacher for so many people. So if Gram was able to connect with herstudents that way, you can imagine the impact she had on those of us who were lucky enough to be closest to her. I’m not going to lie, our loss is profound,and the past two months have been a big adjustment.

But Gram was nothing if not practical, and she would never have stood for sniveling. So when I thought about what to say today, I knew I wanted to do more than just tell stories and get long winded about howwonderful she was. You lived the stories too, and we can’t wait to hear them. And as for the wonderful part, I think it’s safe to say that we all agree. So let me sum it up like this:

I was out to dinner with friends a few weeks ago when I saw a t-shirt that really struck me. It had a quote from St. Joan of Arc printed on the back that said simply, “I am not afraid. I was born to do this,” and it made me think of all the amazing things Gram did with her life. She was the youngest child of YMCA missionaries who gave up the comforts of home to live and work in rural China in the 1920’s just because they felt they were needed, and who then returned to the US just intime to face and survive the Great Depression. With role modeling like that, is it any wonder she had the courage to do the things she did?

Gram was not afraid. Gram was born to TEACH. Outside of the classroom, Gram taught us music and games, to read voraciously like she did, culinary arts, and how to love everyone in spite of color, culture, ororientation. Not to mention the fact she herself was a living, breathing piece of history. We’ve all had teachers who knew their material but couldn’t teach it to save their lives. But then there were teachers like Gram who could pickup anything and teach it on the spot. Those are the teachers with courage, whose desire to embrace and enrich the world far outweighs the fear of being foolish or wrong.

Gram was not afraid. She was born to TRAVEL. And as you know, I don’t mean Florida for the winter. (Although she was known to do that too.) Those of you who have traveled abroad know that culture shock is a very real thing, and it isn’t always easy to do. In a world where wars are fought over race, culture, and religion, and where too many people are either too poor or too afraid to leave home, Gram made it her business to get sick on airplanes, lose her luggage, and see what was out there, EXPERIENCE what was out there for herself. Shall I rundown the list? Egypt, Mexico, Cyprus, Greece, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and of course, two trips to her beloved China, where on at least one occasion, she was able to visit the house where she was born.

Gram was not afraid. She was born to SPEAK OUT. She spent so much of her adult life here in Guilderland and considered it home, so when it came time to preserve some of the history by protecting the Schoolcraft House, Gram was first in line. Gram also had a great love of the arts. She took me to as many events as she could and gave her time to the children at the New York State Theatre Institute to help make sure that they could experience it too. Well into her seventies, she could be found sporting a reflective vest in front of Planned Parenthood. Gram believed it was important for women to access healthcare, and she did what she could to make sure they were able to do so. Whether you agree with these things or not, you’ve gotta admire the COURAGE.

Gram was not afraid. She was born to GIVE, even when it was difficult. Gram’s heart strings were never as neatly tucked away as she liked to think they were. She couldn’t bear to see us struggle and was always there with any help we needed. Perhaps the best example of her true nature was the incredible work she did with families who placed their loved ones in Hospice care. Gram was there to run the errands, hold the hands, bring the food, and whatever else was needed for many, many people at the end of their lives. If that doesn’t take a special person, I don’t know what does.

So as important as her classroom work was, COURAGE is the REAL lesson of Minette Munson. Whether you remember your biology or not, her lesson of courage is here with us now and it always will be.

“I am not afraid; I was born to do this.” The quote from Joan of Arc also reminded me that this is not the first major loss or difficulty in my life, and it won’t be the last. But I have come to realize that, as sad as I am, loss and hardship are OK. Loss is as much a part of the human existence as joy, and hardship can most definitely be weathered. All it takes is your loved ones and a little of what Gram had; courage. So you go onahead, Gram. Your courage is safely instilled in me and you have more than earned your rest. I will go on performing for large crowds and campaigning forcauses and candidates that I believe in. I will stick to this crazy bohemian path that I’ve chosen, and most importantly, I will continue to work in the area’s worst neighborhoods doing what little I can for the poor, the angry, and thesick. And please don’t worry about me, Gram. I am not afraid. I was born to do this.

Gram’s fearless nature is what brought about her charm and charisma, so it stands to reason that, in spite of the heavy workload she carried, she was also the kind of warm person who could entice so many of you to come and have a drink with us on Christmas Eve when you could have been snuggled up at home with your families. We loved having you, and we thank you for that. So from my Aunt Carol, Uncle Philip, my Dad, Chuck, and this entire Mighty Munson clan, thank you SO much for being with us today. Gram loved you, and so do we.

Gram would have been 91 next week, and we, her family, are well aware that all of you held her in such high regard, and its heartwarming. On her 75th birthday, I made a toast, and at the risk of repeating myself, I’d like to offer those same sentiments again today. I raised my glassand said “To Minette. Because everyone likes to gush about their wonderful grandma, but everyone likes to gush about MY wonderful grandma, too.” I spoke the truth. We ALL loved her, all of us in this room. For that, and for her courage, shedeserves a round of applause.

Thank you.