The event was a great tribute to a phenomenal human being. And it was fitting that the event was at the Marchegian Hall right across the street from Urban Oaks organic farm, founded by Tony and his partner Mike Kandefer.
It was said by more than one person in attendance that, as an organizer, Tony would have really liked his tribute to be that kind of community event - with a committee organizing people to set up a hall, cook food and, of course, get people to attend.
It was good to hear different people talk about the different things Tony did to help and care for people in different stages and parts of his life. He touches so many lives and did so many things that I am sure that few people knew everything he did.
From the time he was young, he worked hard to undo the systems of unfairness and build a better world, as former State Representative and House Majority Leader David Pudlin described. He worked hard to build a stronger community in New Britain. For example, as the deeply honored community leader, Mr. Alton Brooks, pointed out, Tony was instrumental in building up the organization that became the Human Resources Agency. Former Congressional candidate Charlotte Koskoff talked about Tony's dynamic work in politics - and her race in 1994 was just one of many in which Tony's work was instrumental. Of course, in the past nearly two decades, he has worked on building up the Urban Oaks farm. And, as anyone active in the East Side knows, he has been a great leader in the East Side NRZ.
As if to sum up in my own mind what Tony meant to us all, as I was driving into the parking lot to volunteer at the Marchegian Society, I was wondering about what tasks I would be asked to do to set up for the event. I knew that I would find out my job by reporting to the event organizer, who, knowing it was a Tony Norris event, for just a moment, I, by reflex, expected would be Tony.
And that is just one part of the giant presence we will miss so very much in our community.
But mostly, we will all miss our dear friend.
It was said by more than one person in attendance that, as an organizer, Tony would have really liked his tribute to be that kind of community event - with a committee organizing people to set up a hall, cook food and, of course, get people to attend.
It was good to hear different people talk about the different things Tony did to help and care for people in different stages and parts of his life. He touches so many lives and did so many things that I am sure that few people knew everything he did.From the time he was young, he worked hard to undo the systems of unfairness and build a better world, as former State Representative and House Majority Leader David Pudlin described. He worked hard to build a stronger community in New Britain. For example, as the deeply honored community leader, Mr. Alton Brooks, pointed out, Tony was instrumental in building up the organization that became the Human Resources Agency. Former Congressional candidate Charlotte Koskoff talked about Tony's dynamic work in politics - and her race in 1994 was just one of many in which Tony's work was instrumental. Of course, in the past nearly two decades, he has worked on building up the Urban Oaks farm. And, as anyone active in the East Side knows, he has been a great leader in the East Side NRZ.
As if to sum up in my own mind what Tony meant to us all, as I was driving into the parking lot to volunteer at the Marchegian Society, I was wondering about what tasks I would be asked to do to set up for the event. I knew that I would find out my job by reporting to the event organizer, who, knowing it was a Tony Norris event, for just a moment, I, by reflex, expected would be Tony.
And that is just one part of the giant presence we will miss so very much in our community.
But mostly, we will all miss our dear friend.
