Art Weidman
He made a difference in my life.
In Kansas City, Mr. Weidman was one of my parents’ closest friends and a frequent guest at our dinner table. I don't know if Art was gay or not (I'm not even sure if that was a term back in the early 40s), but Art was one of those individuals who was always meticulously dressed and unusually polite and courteous. He hated manual labor and exercise; I don't believe I ever saw him exercise or even break a sweat.
So, imagine everyone's surprise when Art was drafted into the Army in World War II and ended up in the infantry, of all places. He absolutely hated it and wrote my parents long letters about the horrors of marching and basic training. But there was a war to fight.
Eventually, Art was shipped overseas to Africa and then Europe. Everyone was shocked to learn that he was in the hospital after stepping on a land mine. A month later a small box arrived from Italy. In the box was a vial and a poem. The vial contained Art's toe. The poem read:
Louisiana, Africa, Italy, Atoll.
I'm resting at last in alcohol!
Art recovered and returned to Kansas City wearing a special buildup shoe on his right foot.
This was around the time that my parents were afraid I might become a juvenile delinquent if I continued going to Kansas City public schools. I could not seem to focus on anything but sports, girls and mischief, so they decided to send me to Peddie, a private school in Hightstown, New Jersey. They picked Peddie because that is where Art had gone to school. Even though he had graduated in 1925, I am sure my parents hoped Peddie would turn me into a gentleman like Art.
To get me off to a good start, they asked Art to accompany me on the long train ride east. We had a lot of time to talk on that trip. Art explained that I was going to a school where no one knew me and no one knew my reputation, so I had the unique opportunity to make anything I wanted of myself. It was sound advice. I went from being a mediocre student to making the honors list, playing varsity football and basketball and running track. I even earned a fully paid scholarship to study for a year abroad in England.
Many people and moments have changed my life, but none more than Art Weidman and the advice he gave me on that train.