Loss, Anecdote, Empathy

I’ll get into more mundane things below my signature, but I couldn’t start today without commenting on the death of the great New York writer Pete Hamill. Pete Hamill was born and raised in our community long before community boards or…

I’ll get into more mundane things below my signature, but I couldn’t start today without commenting on the death of the great New York writer Pete Hamill. Pete Hamill was born and raised in our community long before community boards or community districts were a thing. His father worked in a Gowanus factory, and he, a high school dropout, became a powerful voice in our city. No one is perfect, but he is right up there in the annals of tabloid journalism with Jimmy Breslin. We’d be well served to remember his love for the city; it’s constant change and diversity expressed in most of his writing. 

I only got to meet Pete Hamill once, but I’ll never forget. It was, fittingly, in CB6 at Red Hook's Rocky Sullivan's just after I had graduated college in 2007. He read from his then-new book North River, told stories about Brooklyn, and at one point, he discussed what a great day it was when his Italian neighbor had taught his Irish mother how to make red sauce,or ,as some would say, gravy. After this anecdote, he explained to the crowd, “some may not know this, but the Irish and Italians hated each other until they started marrying each other.” 

Being the offspring of precisely this type of marital mix (Italian father, Irish Mother), it resonated with me, and when I was introduced to him, I was able to tell him so. I’m sure countless people had told him how his words had resonated with them, but for the few minutes I got to speak with him, he gave the impression that it was a unique experience that he wouldn’t forget. Regardless, I never forgot it and will always appreciate it.

I'd guess the ability to speak to someone he didn't know with care and empathy is part of what made him so successful in various aspects of writing. No matter the field, we'd all do better with a bit more empathy, especially as there is so much human suffering around us.

This is the web archive of a newsletter originally sent by email to Brooklyn Community Board 6 subscribers on Thursday, August 6, 2020. The email edition may contain additional event listings and links.