Grieving the loss of a friend, mentor, musical inspiration, and one of the kindest and most loving human beings ever to walk the Earth. The world is far richer for Sandy's 80 years among us, and far sadder for his leaving. Sending love to Caroline, David, Rob, Marian, Linnea, Shannon, Juliana, Eric and Hannah--and to all of those who, like me, are mourning Sandy's passing today.

Sandy has been an important part of my life for many years. If it weren't for him and Caroline, I would not be the person I am, nor know any of you. Sandy and Caroline entered my life 38 years ago, when I was 17. They not only encouraged me, but made it possible for me to leave Michigan and relocate to the East coast in 1974. It was a life-changing and life-affirming move for me, and one for which I thanked Sandy again just a week ago.

Sandy was an incredible scholar of folklore and history, whose vast knowledge he shared eagerly with others. He referred to his large collection of books as "the university education I never had"--and what an education it was. Sandy was a fine and thoughtful writer, and we shared a delight in language and words, and still liked to reminisce over a particular game of "Dictionary" played in the Patons' living room one long-ago Thanksgiving.

And, as so many others have noted, Sandy's labor of love, Folk-Legacy, has touched so many--and in so many ways has been the rock on which our singing community has been built over the years. As I look at the list of songs I sing, so many were learned from Sandy and Caroline, or from the many, many singers whose music first came to me via those wonderful Folk-Legacy recordings. Sandy and Caroline would almost certainly have become materially richer had they pursued another line of work. But we would all be poorer if they had done so. Sandy's physical body may be gone, but his Folk-Legacy lives on.

Thinking about Sandy this morning, I found myself humming "It Soon Be Done." Sandy and Caroline sang that song in one of their Michigan concerts that influenced me so profoundly all those years ago. What made an impression on me was Sandy's introduction. He always made note of these words:

"I'm gonna shake hands with all of the elders,
Tell all the people Good Mornin',
Sit down beside my Jesus,
Sit down and rest awhile."

Sandy was delighted by the idea the song conveyed of death as a joyful "Good Mornin'"

Rest awhile, dear Sandy. Your life and love have touched me deeply.