I was saddened to read about the death of Lary Lewman. His obituaries said he was known for having been "Pete the Pirate" on Baltimore TV in the 1960s and later as a successful voice-over artist on political commercials.
I will remember him for an act of great kindness. Thirteen years ago, I was looking for someone to build a wheelchair ramp for a friend, a young Salvadoran immigrant who had been shot in Long Reach during a robbery attempt and left paralyzed. The young man wanted to keep working but couldn't leave his family's house unless someone carried him down the steps.
Help arrived in the person of Lary Lewman of the Unitarian Universalist congregation. He and his son, Lance, built a beautiful ramp for my friend. In return, they would accept nothing. They simply wanted to help a family in need.
The brutality of the shooting had come as a shock. But Lary's kindness was inspiring. To me, he will always represent the best our community has to offer.
Adriana Ramos Bock
Columbia