Thanks for this story. John Knecht
On Thu, Aug 24, 2023 at 8:51 PM Scott MacDonald <[email protected]> wrote: > *David, what a great story!* > > *Thanks for the details--the song et al.* > > *I'm forwarding your post to Herskowitz, who I saw today at the burial > ceremony for Patty.* > > *Scott* > > > > On Thu, Aug 24, 2023 at 2:39 PM Dave Tetzlaff <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Patty had the desk next to mine in the TA bullpen on the 6th floor of >> Vilas Hall at UW-Madison ComArts 1978-1981. She recruited me into the TA >> union (TAA), and she, I, and Richard Herskowitz were all comrades during >> the 1980 TAA strike. She approached the strike with typical energy and >> creativity. She got T-shirts printed up with a detourned version of a >> common UW design featuring Bucky Badger – but holding a TAA picket sign. >> Then she created these alternative lyrics to the college fight song "On >> Wisconsin" (etched forever in my memory): >> Off Wisconsin, Off Wisconsin >> Shut this factory down >> Tell old Irving Shain that he >> Can't push TA's around >> What the U calls education >> Really is a crime >> Strike now and >> Fight Fight Fight >> We'll win this time. >> >> From the get go, I considered her one of those rare individuals who are >> like an elemental force of nature. I shall share just one paradigmatic >> anecdote: >> >> There were 7 or 8 of us in that office, and there was one phone for the >> whole room near the door. Patty didn't spend much time at her desk, but the >> majority of the times that phone rang, it was someone trying to contact >> her. I began to feel a little bit like her secretary. One day as I was >> alone in the room, I answered the phone, and an accented voice said, >> "Isz Pat-ti there?" >> I replied, as I had so often before. "No, sorry.". >> "Oh, shhiit" said the voice. >> "Can I take a message?" I asked. >> "Yes, Tell her Werner Herzog called." >> "Uh... [beat] *The* Werner Herzog??" >> "Yes." >> "Uh [beat] I like your films." (Yeah, that was the best I could come up >> with in the moment.) >> "Thank You, Good bye." >> Later that day, I came back to the office after holding class, and Patty >> was there at her desk. in my most faux casual 'no big deal' tone, I said, >> "Oh, Patty, Werner Herzog called for you." And she replied just as casually >> without even looking up from what she was doing, "Oh yeah? What did he >> want?" >> At which point I think I uttered something like a scream... >> >> She was, in every way, irreplaceable. But her work, and her personal >> example to everyone who knew her, will not soon be forgotten. RIP, indeed, >> dear Patricia. >> -- >> Frameworks mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://mail.film-gallery.org/mailman/listinfo/frameworks_film-gallery.org >> > -- > Frameworks mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.film-gallery.org/mailman/listinfo/frameworks_film-gallery.org > -- John Knecht, Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor of Art and Art History and Film and Media Studies. Emeritus.
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