Goodbye Lydia

[atruant]

Farewell, Lydia.....so happy to have met you and chatted often. We will all miss you.

[Tony_]

 I was not here when the forum was formed, and then later, had no interaction with her.  But clearly, she was one of the powerhouse ones that brought so many people together, and she was certainly much-loved, given the reaction from the others above. This is harsh news.
 My heartfelt condolences to those who had the wonderful privilege of knowing her. And my own thanks to her memory for all she has done for the rest of us, the later stragglers.

[CellarDweller115]

But clearly, she was one of the powerhouse ones that brought so many people together, and she was certainly much-loved, given the reaction from the others above.

Yes she was, Tony.  Thanks for acknowledging this.  Many new members here may not know her contributions here, but they were many, and she's one of the reasons the forum has continued on.  Her tireless work on the book was amazing.  I'm so glad she got to see the idea of the book become real life on the stage.  I'm sure she was so happy about that.

[fritzkep]

Thanking her for her work on the book, which has given birth to many other forms in word, spoken and written, and in the mute but powerful form of dance.

[Tony_]

......Many new members here may not know her contributions here, but they were many, and she's one of the reasons the forum has continued on.  Her tireless work on the book was amazing.  I'm so glad she got to see the idea of the book become real life on the stage.  I'm sure she was so happy about that.

 It's true, Chuck, later members, like myself, never knew the people and how hard they worked, and how much love was in that work, until later.

 I did see her username logged in, at times, but was too shy to look for her profile posts; KittyHawk is a resort area in the Outer Banks, just south of me, and I had thought she might have been a sort of neighbor, and so, the shyness.
 Will try to find her posts, which would be one way for me to pay my respects.

[WLAGuy]

Damn, damn, damn.  I only had the pleasure of seeing Lydia in person a few times at BBM-related events and we didn't have much direct contact on the board, but I am so sad she's gone.  One of the shining lights in our world has winked out, and we are the poorer for losing her.  Goodbye, Lydia.  We will miss you.

[LoveEmBoys]

She first came to me with the book idea, and I tried to talk her out of it. I told her that books were so much harder to produce than they looked; it was a massive under-taking, that would take a huge team, and they would probably spend a year doing it.

I had no idea the book was her idea.  I knew she had worked tirelessly to get it done, and done very well...  I guess that she was the visionary explains where the drive came from.  Wow.

[LoveEmBoys]

That was Lydia...

She was so spirited, wise, kind, generous, eager to learn and share and give...

Beautifully said Charlotte, and so true.

[killersmom]

I knew Lydia from the early days of the forum and have been in contact with her on and off since then. I have been very lucky to have met her many times in person and many times verbally and of course by pm and email too many times to count. She has always, always been a guiding light for this forum and for me personally. I will miss her and her wonderful advice and her amazing knowledge.

You will be missed by so many. May you rest in peace.

[killersmom]

Even though I had spoken with Lydia many many times in the early days of the forum, I finally got to meet her in person on Memorial Day weekend in Estes Park, Colorado in 2007.



I will miss you Lydia.

[LoveEmBoys]

From the only time I was priviledged to share the same room with Lydia - at the BBQ in Colorado.  In fact, I believe had she not flown in and conspired with CactusGal, I think a bunch of Brokies would have missed out on the opportunity to meet Dave in person too.

[LoveEmBoys]

LOL, jinx Auntie!

[lovelyamazing]

I am shocked! I can't believe this 
I have the book in my hand now 

[donna]

Fortunately, for all of us, Lydia was in the right place at the right time.  Beyond Brokeback is her legacy.

RIP, dear Lydia

[BayCityJohn]

Another one of Lydia's legacies is the Kentucky Virtual Library



She is the one who was instrumental in securing the initial $300,000 funding from KDE for the Virtual Library. When the Department of Education could no longer pay that, she was the one who requested it from the KETS funds that are for the entire state. Some of the percentage of that goes back to the KDE and basically, most of the money that goes back to the KDE is now coming to the Virtual Library to cover the 312, 000 dollars. She is a real friend of the Virtual Library and has supported it from its inception.

Virtual Library Advisory Committee

Resolution to Honor Lydia Wells Sledge

Whereas  Lydia Wells Sledge, completing her tenure as Director of School Instructional Technology in the Office of Education Technology at the Kentucky Department of Education; and

Whereas  She supported the Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL)  from its inception by appointing a staff member to represent the Kentucky Department of Education; and

Whereas  She was instrumental in securing funding for the Kentucky Virtual Library from the Kentucky Department of Education; and      

Whereas   She advocated within the Kentucky Department of Education for support for the Kentucky Virtual Library; and

Whereas   She is a strong supporter of education in Kentucky and saw the advantages of a statewide virtual library, and

Whereas  She is a loyal friend of the Kentucky Virtual Library and

Therefore for her strong support for the Kentucky Virtual Library while with the Kentucky Department of Education, Lydia Wells Sledge is honored with sincere appreciation and gratitude by the Virtual Library Advisory Committee.

Adopted by the Membership of the Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL) Advisory Committee (VLAC) on August 15, 2003.

______________________________________

Enid G. Wohlstein, Director, Kentucky Virtual Library


http://www.kyvl.org/