I had two encounters with Eunice Shriver, one face-to-face and the other at a slight remove.

When I was a kid, the Shrivers lived nearby. One weekend afternoot, Mrs. Shriver came walking up the street by the playground where we were playing football. She asked if she could join us, and we agreed, though we thought it strange that a woman our mothers' age dressed in a smart suit would want to play touch football with a bunch of boys. The lady had a very nice pass and really had a good time for the few minutes she could spare with us. Very classy.

Many years later, I was doing some freelance graphic design work and did a brochure job for an agency working with individuals with developmental disabilities. We worked very hard to make it both attractive and informative, not an easy job when you are presenting dry statistics. After it was published, my agency contact sent me a copy of a letter they received from Eunice Shriver praising their brochure for its clarity and interest. I treasure that letter to this day.

She was truly a great lady.