Peace activist mourned at vigil
http://citizensvoice.com/news/peace-activist-mourned-at-vigil-1.697525
By Kristen Gaydos
Published: March 24, 2010
If someone hadn't stolen Bob Witkowski's newspaper on Saturday, Jim
Shook wouldn't have had a chance to see the local peace activist and
his longtime friend one last time.
"He came to my house to look at the paper," Shook said, recalling
Witkowski's interest in the press coverage of a peace vigil his
friend had attended the previous day. "We talked for 15-20 minutes.
Two hours later, he was gone."
Shook was one of more than 65 people who honored Witkowski's legacy
during a candelight vigil Tuesday on Public Square. Witkowski, 57, of
Ashley, who died Saturday, was a well-known peace activist. For
decades, He committed to raising awareness for various causes, such
as the anti-war and anti-death penalty movement and protecting the environment.
Witkowski spent the last moments of his life immersed in fighting for
his causes, taking part in a rally for the abolition of the death
penalty in Harrisburg on Tuesday. His last mission as an activist was
taking part in a peace vigil marking the seventh anniversary of the
beginning of the Iraq war on Public Square. His brother, Tom
Witkowski, said Witkowski was talking about the local press coverage
of the peace vigil when he died.
Witkowski was a longtime member and Steering Club member of the
Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and Justice, Wilkes-Barre; and
belonged to the Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty,
Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern and The War Resister's League.
A 1974 King's College graduate, Witkowski was employed by the
Salvation Army in Hanover Township. He was the former owner of
Gratefully Yours in Wilkes-Barre, and stayed true to his hippie roots
throughout his life. Witkowski was easily recognizable at protests
and while out in the community by his long ponytail and colorful
collection of T-shirts.
Don Shappelle honored his friend's legacy with a rendition of Pete
Seeger's folk song, "If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)." He urged
those present to keep Witkowski's passion alive and take up the fight
for peace, justice and equality.
"Go do something that would make a difference in this world. ...
Don't be afraid. Because Bob wasn't," he said.
Rob Burnside, of Swoyersville, said Witkowski was one of a kind and a
great person to give advice. As a Wilkes-Barre Township firefighter,
Burnside frequently ran into Witkowski, who lived next to the fire station.
"Every city needs a Bob Witkowski. We were lucky to have him," he said.
Ned Smith of Harrisburg said Witkowski was always there to open
people's eyes to the injustices of the world. He last saw his friend
during Tuesday's rally in Harrisburg.
"He was very influential in a very quiet, unassuming manner," he said.
Rob Gereda, director of the Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and
Justice, said Witkowski was especially passionate about his
opposition to war. Although some people may not have agreed with his
views, Gereda said Bob was friendly and open to every point of view.
He lived up to the values he shared and was contagious in his ability
to bring people in, he said.
"The respect he tried to show on issues, whether it was homelessness,
war or poverty, was just warm-hearted. You were drawn in, and
couldn't help but listen."
Smith thought it was appropriate that Witkowski, always intrigued by
mysticism, passed away on the spring equinox. He said Witkowski would
frequently host gatherings in Nesbitt Park to celebrate the equinox
and solstice.
"He had a real appreciation for the earth, and the mysteries of the
earth," he said.
--
[email protected], 570-821-2118
.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Sixties-L" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected].
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en.
