Dear ProSearch Alumni, I am writing you as a ProSearch alumni (’98) with some very sad
news. Dwight Hawthorne, ProSearch Director from 1993-2005, has passed
away after a long illness. If your experience of ProSearch was anything like mine, you
probably recall him as a Director Extrordinare, the amazing glue of continuity
holding an impossible organization together, inspiring each of us to high
standards of professionalism and collaboration, the man who “kept all the
plates spinning” as he liked to say. Dwight’s mother found a ProSearch directory data disc among his
personal papers, and his friends and family have asked me to
forward the following memory book and memorial service information to
you. Being aware that the data on the disc is confidential, it will not
be used again after the sending of this e-mail. Dwight leaves behind a 12 year old son, Avery, and it is the
family’s hope that some of us who knew him at his professional finest can pass
on some stories and memories that will help Avery to know this side of his
father in the years to come. The memorial information speaks of
Aidan (Dwight) Hawthorne. Aidan is the name he preferred to be called in
his final years. With heavy heart and fond memories, both of Dwight, and my
ProSearch compatriots, David Finacom Letter requesting memories of Dwight Hawthorne for a memorial
book for his son Dear
Ones, As
many of you are aware, Aidan (Dwight) Hawthorne passed away on November
19. A church announcement about his memorial service is below: Service
of Memorial Honoring
the Life of Dwight Aidan Hawthorne Saturday, January 3, 2009 2:00 PM First
Unitarian Church of Oakland, Hamilton Hall Please
join the family and friends of church member Aidan Hawthorne as we mourn his death
and celebrate his life. A reception in Wendte Hall will follow the
service. All are welcome. I’m
writing to ask if you would be willing to write something for a book I’m
putting together for Aidan’s son, Avery, to be presented during the memorial
service for Aidan.
Avery’s mother, Jackie, asked me if I would coordinate this effort, and I am so
happy to be able to do so, as Avery is my “first son,” a child I have adored
and “practiced parenting” on since he was a toddler. Any
story about Aidan, or special memory of a time you spent with him, or any
words of wisdom or comfort you’d like to share with Avery are all perfect
entries for this book. If you choose to contribute, you can send
your entry to me via email (http://www.sbcglobal.net/~pkhand) or snail mail (Kate
Hand, 2804 Grant Street, 94703). If you choose snail
mail, please write your entry on one side of a piece of paper no larger than 8
½ X 11” so it can be entered in the book and read easily without having to be
removed for reading. If you choose email, feel free to send it as an
attachment. That way you can choose the font and layout. I
will then print it up on quality parchment. Writing materials will also
be available at the memorial service, but I’d love to collect as many entries
as possible before then, so that the book can be mostly assembled and presented
during the service. On
behalf of Jackie and Avery, thank you so much for considering this
request. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Kate
Hand |