Joe Glazer is gravely ill

Subject: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Bennet Zurofsky
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 07:14 AM

Dear friends,

I thought you would be interested in this sad news about Joe Glazer's health. It comes from Jacki Fralley, who has been working with Joe for several years to make sure that his extensive collection of labor folklore is properly preserved.

- Bennet Zurofsky

Dear all:

    Please send your meditations and prayers for Joe Glazer. He is weak but resting at home after three days in hospital for transfusions and observation.

    As some of you know, he has been valiantly battling cancer that is known as agressive T-cell lymphoma, which is usually a terminal illness, diagnosed just before the GLAE/COCO. Joe had been at home recovering from the last chemo treatment two weeks ago, because the lastest CT scan showed that the chemo was not helping. .So they have stopped it to spare him the fatigue, the major side effect, with the expectation that he will be feeling better in two or three weeks as the chemo leaves his system, and also with a prognosis of maybe 6 to 12 months to live, so hospice is being laid on.

    But the lesion on his upper leg, which was the first symptom of the lymphoma, has been doing worse, he saw the surgeon about it last Tuesday, then woke up bleeding from it Wednesday, a hospice nurse came in early am to redress it but it bled through by 11, so he and Mildred went to Sibley Hospital ER early afternoon, where he had a transfusion of two units of blood. Then, not sure he was stable enough to go home, they had to send him to Washington Hospital Center because the Glazer's Kaiser health does not work with Sibley, and he was there until Friday, reaching home again Friday evening.

    Hospice is fully in place as of the end of the week with a daily and an overnight aide, and daily nurse visit to check and change the bandage, and other Hospice volunteers are apparently available if needed for respite care so Mildred can get a break. But the night aide had a family emergency Saturday and couldn't come, and Emily was out of town, so it's not perfect. Fortunately their wonderful neighbors, young with three young kids, are on call for anything they can do, and asked their housekeeper/nanny to come in overnight which she was able to do. And Mildred is now arranging to move them to Riderwood Village in the Beltsville/College Park area, where the facilities range from the independent living apartments, that she is arranging to move into, to full long-term care.

    Joe is resting a lot, and whether he will gather strength as the chemo finishes leaving his system, as the chief of oncology told them they could expect, and as he rests from the efforts of this week and hospitalization, remains to be seen, and Mildred is very tired from the very long week, he's not taking calls at the moment, so use your judgement about calling Millie, and if you do, brief in the afternoons may be the best. And cards or notes, if you want to send and don't have the address handy, should go to:

4701 Willard Avenue # 336
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

    As some of you also know, I have for three years, since before the Glazers moved out of their house in Chevy Chase, been helping Joe get his lifetime of papers and correspondence ready to go to the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center archive, and his recordings and other musical materials ready to go to the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, where they will become part of their archive and of Smithsonian Folkways Records, and where the recordings will be available on CD in perpetuity. That work should be finished before they move.

    So I have been working in their home office on and off since October of 2003 when we started sorting and packing up materials for their move to Friendship Heights, and am keeping up with what is happening, doing what I can to support them both and their kids who are staying close and coming and going, Emily from here in Takoma Park, and Patti from NC and Daniel from Chicago are coming back this weekend.

    Hope all is well with all of you, and gratitude for all good thoughts and prayers for Joe.

Jackie Fralley

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Franz S.
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 09:44 AM

My thoughts and prayers are with the two of them. He has sttengthened and nurtured and animated the commitment of who knows how many people to both the music and the cause.

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 11:15 AM

One of the great folks. I have his complete collection which I use for reference. I also have an old vinyl LP that he made for SEIU full of songs both for them and general labor. One of my heroes.

Mick Lane

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 01:04 PM

I am fortunate to live near him and to have heard him live many times. He is a gracious, generous guy who is always ready to lend his knowlege at a festival. He has performed for FSGW a number of times. I am so sad to hear that his long run is nearing the end.,....but such a legacy!

Hoping he is comfortable soon and can have friends & family around him.

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Carly
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 03:52 PM

Thank you, Bennet and Jackie, for getting out this information, sad though it is.

I feel honored to know Joe Glazer, and to have heard many of his performances through the years. He is as generous and kind offstage as on, and a willing source of amazing knowledge about the labor movement and its music. If you see this, Joe, thank you for your lifetime of committment and your heart full of songs; I hope your twilight time is easy, and filled with love.

Carly Gewirz

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 05:52 PM

I've admired Joe for as long as I've been alive, and always found him to be a kind, encouraging, and generous person. It's very sad to hear such terrible news.

Only a few months ago Joe gave a wonderful performance at the Washington Folk Festival. Now I'm so glad that I heard him sing one more time.

One story to share - Joe has always had an ear out for good music, and never limited himself to the best known folks. At a FSGW Mini-Festival one year, we were chatting as we walked and he stopped at one room in which a mini-concert was getting underway. "I have to go hear these women," he said, "They're one of my favorite groups - have you heard them?" And he walked into the room in which my mother's trio was singing.

Thanks, Joe - for everything. We love you.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 08:01 PM

Sad to hear but Joe has had a wonderful long life, and has done his best to make this a better world for the rest of us as well.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 11:16 PM

I also am saddened by this news. I wish to echo what Franz and Charlie have said ... better words than I could foster. Bob

Subject: RE: Joe Glazer is gravely ill
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 11:54 PM

refresh

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I closed this, as there's sadly now an Obituary thread for Joe - JC