O-Bits: Paying One’s Respects Edition

It’s hard to know what to say, or how to comfort someone dealing with the loss of a loved one. But in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a man made a touching gesture by stopping his car, getting out and bowing his head as the funeral cortege of Phillip Dooley, Sr passed by. Mr. Dooley’s granddaughter snapped a photo, and it has since gone viral. The gentleman in the photo has yet to be identified, but the family told WWMT-TV they would like to express their appreciation.

In a more formal setting, students at San Antonio College learned “The Importance of Communication and Customer Service Even in the Darkest of Times.” Alum Helen Loring Dear, president of Porter Loring Mortuaries, explained that at her mortuary—a family business started by her grandfather—every employee goes through training on how to deal with grieving families. “You have to remember that not everyone reacts like you react,” the college’s website, The Ranger reported.  “Not everyone can make decisions as quickly or as slowly as you do, and you have to just be patient.” One student was perhaps not as patient as she’s like, telling the Ranger “The opening was kind of long—the history part—but after that I was into it.”

Finally, Stamford, Connecticut, which was not too long ago a troubled city, has something to crow about: so far this year, not a single homicide has been committed in the city limits. So, congratulations, Stamford!

See you this afternoon, and if you have murder in your heart, for God’s sake, avoid Stamford.

Steven Mirkin

Steven Mirkin’s diverse career has taken him from politics to pop culture to high art, offering him a front row seat to some of the most fascinating events and personalities of our time: writing speeches, fundraising appeals and campaign materials for Ed Koch, John Heinz and independent presidential candidate John B. Anderson; chronicling the punk/new wave scenes in New York and London; interviewing musicians such as Elton John, John Lydon and Buck Owens; profiling modern masters Julian Schnabel, Paul Schrader and Jonathan Safran Foer; and writing for TV shows including 21, The Chamber, Let's Make A Deal, and Rock Star: INXS.