Pennsylvania memorial service set May 9

For those who couldn't make it to the Houston service, Renee and family and friends are holding a memorial service for Leslie on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, with a reception to follow in Hermitage. Details to follow.

One wish fulfilled...

I don't recall the circumstances in which Leslie expressed his desire--should he depart the temporal plane--to have some of his ashes dispensed with in this manner. But Renee assured me that he had specifically requested that she and I take his beloved convertible down one of Houston's (few) scenic roadways--Allen Parkway that runs out of downtown along the bayou, a road he drove almost daily for years--and toss some of his remains to the winds. On February 21, we fulfilled his wish. Speeding out of downtown on an intermittently rainy day, the top down (like he loved it), me driving, and Renee hanging from the window, we let go with a generous cloud of ash (thanks to the draft created by the car, we ended up wearing some of it). The gracelessness of it all would only have made him laugh harder. -- FREEBIRD

From an old family friend

I sat here and read all through the blogs and just looked at Leslie's pictures. What a great tribute to him. The messages from his memorial were so touching.

I laughed and I cried. He was such a great person and we still can't believe he is gone. I told mom and Joanie after you called and called Gary and Carol the next day. We are all just devastated with the news and our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Reading the blogs sure brought back memories of your mom and dad and Shelly and all of the good times we had as kids. Some of the stories just made me laugh; the things he and his friends did in high school were so funny. I can just picture your parents and everyone sitting in the dining room. What a character Les was. The blogs from his friends and students and professors made me feel so sad, but he sure had a good life and did a lot of traveling and sure made an impression on his students. What a great person and he will be missed so much by all.

Take Care. We will see you in May. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

With Love, Nancy

A photographic tribute...

In memory of Dr. Leslie Marenchin.
Words escape me, so I have to express myself with Imagery. I was lucky and had the great fortune of meeting a “Real Philosopher” a true “Intellectual,” whose life ended way too early.

--Tony

A former student...

He was a wonderful professor. Definitely a favorite for me. He really pushed us to think beyond our comfort zone, and I appreciate that tremendously. He was brilliant, humorous, and genuine. I know he will be missed. Thank you, Dr. Marenchin.

From an old Rice U. friend...

I am so very sorry for your loss -- our loss, yes, true enough -- but why pretend: that is a dilution, comparatively.

You have taken a hard, a very hard, hit.

And there is nothing to be done.

I am so sorry.

-- Laurie [ex-Friday nights at Willy's, long ago]

From an old friend...

Leslie and I were great friends during our college and post college years. The first thing I noticed about Les was his long frizzy shoulder length black hair, the second was his laugh. I was hooked. His interests then were eclectic: the Beats, Kerouac, Updike, the Beatles (he was a huge fan), Stravinsky, 60 Minutes (which he watched religiously), Woody Allen, Dr. Winter, Jerry Weinberger, Leon Miller, Charlie Patton, David Hume, Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell, Springsteen, Charlie Parker, chicks, beer, and more beer.
Being with Leslie, you knew you were always one step away from an adventure. One fond memory: hopping into his black VW bug and driving from Lancaster to Philadelphia to see Allen Ginsberg perform at the Main Point. By this time Ginsberg was more performer than poet, but we loved every minute of the show. On the drive back back, with beer in tow, we shouted out lines from HOWL for all to hear: "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madmen, starving hysterical naked dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix..."
It was a glorious moment in time.
It was being with Les.

--Tom Korman