James A. Kalish, 88

February 25, 2024

Why-What: This brief “Lookback,” reflects on my more than 88 years, a sort of pre-obituary. I choose to prepare this now because I don’t trust others to get it right. Furthermore I don’t want to wait until I am dead to have people read about me and miss out on knowing what they have might have said.

In One Sentence: I lived a long life that was mostly happy and satisfying, blessedly healthy, certainly interesting, adventurous and varied, with no significant regrets, where I hopefully did more good than harm to people and to the earth – all in all it was a good journey.

Early On: My father, Max Kalish, who died when I was nine, was a significant first-half 20th century sculptor known for his bronze realistic labor statues. My mother, Alice, was a recognized early proponent for children’s theater for fun and learning, a loving and nurturing mom. I was born in Cleveland, June 25, 1935, and lived there most of my growing up years. A somewhat shy youngster, with no great academic achievement, it was theater (although not as an actor) that provided my adolescence with a safe and stimulating environment, and led me to create and operate “Puppetfun” for children, which during my college years became a traveling show. I went on to attend the work-study Antioch College (1953-58), which provided a fine liberal arts education and then to Cornell University for graduate school in urban planning.

Work: My professional career initially (1960-87) focused on urban and social planning, and on the management of nonprofit agencies, in organizations whose values I shared, dealing with of the important public issues of the day. It started in the District of Columbia with urban renewal for neighborhood development, and later in the first local DC anti-poverty action effort, followed by a stint with the national effort. For five years I was program officer for the Meyer Foundation, helping give away about a million dollars a year to local groups. I went on to create and direct the pioneering Washington Council of Agencies, an association, of what became a major organization of 200 non-profits, with members sharing resources, participating in group services including health insurance, management training, and sector-wide advocacy.

Writer and Critic: I latter switched to writing to express my strong views on public issues, (1988-2001). For five years I wrote and published, “DC Issue Watch,” a twice-monthly outspoken newsletter of opinion and information on DC which reached 1,000 subscribers. I wrote several provocative op-ed pieces prominently printed in the Washington Post, and ran for DC Council, not surprisingly unsuccessfully, but still received 10,000 votes. Among my magazine pieces was an expose in the Washington Monthly on the urban planning consultant racket that brought some notoriety however also a million dollar lawsuit against me that was thrown out. After moving to York, PA in 1991, among other projects, was a two year effort to write “The Story of 200 Years of Civil Rights in York, PA,” a comprehensive local history, a 250 page large-format book, with many photos, 2,500 copies printed (not all sold!).

Criminal Justice Action and Advocacy: Towards the end of my working career, (2001-10) the criminal justice system became my focus. For 6 years I taught GED to prisoners at the York County Jail, and became involved with the death penalty issue in Pennsylvania, including befriending a man in Graterford Prison on death row, later changed to life imprisonment, a relationship that continues today. After moving on to Lancaster in 2005, I worked to develop policy, and carry out programs, that would allow people who have sexually offended to live in the community without doing harm to themselves or to others. I introduced an effective, if controversial program, “Circles of Support and Accountability” to support these offenders upon leaving jail; and an advocacy organization, “Community Renewal for Sex Offenders,” to help bring about effective and safe public policies. In 2016 I led an effort to publish a full page peace ad “Not War, Not Violence” in the Lancaster newspaper, signed by 208 individuals and 13 faith communities and groups.

Travel, and Living Abroad: It’s a big interesting world out there, and I was privileged to see, learn, and experience a wonderful share of it. This included a work assignment (1970-71) in Surinam (Dutch Guiana) as an urban planning advisor to the government, and two years in Sierra Leone (West Africa) (1978-79) as deputy director for Peace Corp. There were also self-led trips to European countries, a very adventurist truck through the Amazon region, and before it was officially permitted for an American, two months (1980) travel through China. However, it was Wales (Great Britain) that really captured my love and time, with more than 20 trips there over the years — to walk its hills and villages, enjoy the culture and history, appreciate the beautiful land and music, and spend time with the many friends there.

Family: I was married a total of 43 years, (so far), albeit to three wives, actually loved and loyal to all. Out of Antioch College, Carol Barry from Mississippi, later a mid-level federal government demographer and mother of my two fine adult children, Josh a law office managing partner now in North Carolina, and Seth until recently a graphic designer with the Washington Post. I was a single father to them for ten years when they were youngsters, a good and diligent one I like to think. I then married Susan Ezell, an editor and free spirit. And now, for the last 24 years husband to my lovely wife Pat Hudak, born Guth (from Corry, Pennsylvanian), pre-school teacher extraordinaire and best friend.
Quaker/Unitarian/ Humanist: I was born in a Jewish family, but by early adolescence had left, and soon through reading and experience confidently thought of myself as an atheist and humanist. Also a pacifist. After college I applied for military conscientious objection status, and was rejected only to learn that my flat feet would keep out of the army! After moving to Pennsylvania, I joined the York Unitarian-Universalist church but six years later I discovered a welcoming home at the Quaker Meeting, first in York, and later in Lancaster where I became active in the Peace and Social Concerns Committee. I liked the idea of there being no ministers, that your values should be in accord with your actions, and that there is “god in everyone,” although not believing in god did give some of my Quaker mystic friends. Several years ago we left to return to the Lancaster Unitarian-Universalist Church to participate in its joyous service and community.

Interests and Traits: I see now that I was often led to newly emerging efforts dealing with serious social and economic problems. Several times I took leadership to develop from scratch, and to manage, large, complex non-profit organizations. Both through work and through community activity I was privileged to witness and be involved with many of the most important public issues of the day; poverty, peace, race and class inequality, and criminal justice. I still think of myself as a creature of the 60s; folk music, food coops, the March on Washington, ringing the Pentagon, admirer of Pete Seeger, Bayard Rustin, Paul Robson, Judy Collins, Gene McCarthy, Martin Luther King, and now Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Never made much money, nor was this an important consideration. I do have problems with the capitalistic system here in America and believe that government must take a lead role to reduce our serious income gap and challenges from global warming. So a stereo-typical lefty, grounded in non-violence and faith in the people.

More about Me: I seem to accept and adapt fairly easily to change, to where I live, jobs, even wives. I admit to being sometimes difficult, controlling, a trouble maker, not afraid of controversy, not easily embarrassed, sometimes insensitive, and can be ugly when I believe I’m being treated unfairly in consumer situations. I have a strong sense of place, interested in how organizations and communities operate and who/why decisions get made, having applying this to DC, to Vermont, to Whimaway (my once beloved Pennsylvania forest retreat), to Surinam, and certainly in regard to Wales. I like to live in the middle of cities in diverse communities, near a variety of cultural and commercial facilities. Yet I also like the countryside, and have done a fair amount of walking and hiking. No hobbies as such but lately did what I could in our flower and veggie garden. Lots of books and reading — fiction, non-fiction, book groups, and always the daily newspaper. I don’t particularly care about how things work (cars, computers, etc.), just that they work for me. Little concern for fashion or how I look. I am a poor speller, a lousy singer (but love music), and find learning a language near to impossible (tried Welsh for years). I am an incessant list maker and like to get to places early.

Aging and Dying: I prepared for aging by in 2005 buying a suitable house in Lancaster, PA, walking distance from the center of town, where we live comfortably but simply, on the first floor, occupied upstairs at first by rent paying students. Now we share our home with Gabby, a chaplain at Lancaster General Hospital, and her husband Craig, who provide support and good company as we further age. My health remains amazingly good, just the expected aches and pains of arthritis as I pass my 88th year. Not surprisingly it is my hope to die in my sleep peacefully without pain or long term infirmary. To increase the likelihood of this, included in my death and dying documents are instructions on how to be treated when my life (physically and mentally) is threated, when and how “to pull the plug,” and how to deliver my body to a teaching hospital. I am in no rush to die, but quite accepting. I wish I could know what happens at my Memorial service where a few friends and the curious might gather to remember me, read this pre-obituary, and tell stories about me true and made up.