My dear friend Len Strazewski died in April. Here is the obituary I wrote for him, as published in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Learn a little more about him:

• Vivian Richey, The Columbia Chronicle: “‘Getting a compliment from him felt like a Pulitzer’: Former Columbia professor, comic book writer Len Strazewski dies at 71.”
• Rich Johnston, Bleeding Cool News: “Len Strazewski, Creator Of Prime And Jesse Quick, Has Died, Aged 71.”
• Georgia Garvey, Creators Syndicate: “We Lost One of the Great Grumps This Week.”
• World Balloon podcast: “A Tribute To Writer Len Strazewski PRIME JSA and More.”

You are welcome to post your memories of Len at his memorial Facebook page, or at the “Tributes” section of this Haben Funeral Home & Crematory webpage. Some photos of him are shared there. A bigger selection of photos of Len, his family and friends is published here on my Google Photos site.

A memorial service was held in July at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston, led by my wife, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Harding, AM, MDiv, LCSW. Musical peformances were provided by Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen, with Melissa Bach on cello.

A recording of the service is available on YouTube; it gets underway at the 13-minute mark. Here is the order of service, with links to that portion of the service in the video.

Prelude: “Souvenirs” ~ John Prine

Welcome ∞ Opening Words ∞ Candle of Life

Readings: “Of Mere Being” ~ Wallace Stevens
“Red Skelton at the Seashore” ~ Len Strazewski

Musical Reflection: “Sooner Than Expected” ~ Steve Dawson

The Story of Len’s Life

A Time for Sharing
(Joshua Winchester, Steve Bogira, Art Foley, Betty Jo Moore, Willie Schubert, Randy Erford, Terry Jinks)

Reading: “Len Strazewski’s 3 Simple Rules for Dining Out”
~ Kevin B. O’Reilly (text)

Musical Reflection: “Summer’s End” ~ John Prine

Prayer ∞ Extinguishing the Candle of Life ∞ Benediction

Postlude: “Fish and Whistle” ~ John Prine

For Len.

Half in jest
Half as serious as a heart attack
You carefully outlined the criteria a dining establishment
Must meet to earn your business
One: It must have ample parking
Two: It must accept credit cards
Three: It must be open 24 hours a day
Every day of the year

So here I am
At a Greek diner I found in suburbia
I parked in the lot—check
I will tap my AMEX—check
It is 3 a.m.—check
Open on Christmas? I’ll have to check back

I’ve got a cup of coffee and a slice of pie
It’s a tonic that beats a beer
And I’ve got a growing list of things to do
Now that you’re not here

∞         ∞         ∞

All-night joints are hard to find around here nowadays
I guess the night owls subsist on DoorDash
And skip the chance to come into contact
With the cops and the creeps and the crazies
And the the plain-old cranks like me

Yet, I recall, that your mutant power drew them all
To your side at a diner or at a Vegas lounge
They saw you nursing a drink and felt pulled
By some strange force to tell their tales of woe
But no, they will not find you lingering
As it appears you had to go

Now it is the ghosts who must bend your ear
Yes, you are gone from us mere mortals
But fear not, dear friend—the phantoms will find you here

— 30 —