Sarah's grandfather, Bishop Krister Stendahl, passed away a week ago, on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008. His accomplishments are legion; including serving as Dean of the Harvard Divinity School from 1968- 1979 and increasing the school's diversity during that period, as well as serving as Bishop of Stockholm from 1984-1988. His awards and authored works are too numerous to mention, but I would encourage you to read his New York Times obituary here as well as Harvard Divinity School's obituary here.
I had the great pleasure of meeting him several times and enjoyed every single one of them, with two events really standing out in my memory. Firstly, Chris & Sarah's wedding. Chris and I were standing at the altar and Bishop Stendahl asked that we step back in to the church and have a moment of prayer, together - the 2 brothers and the 2 mass celebrants, before the ceremony began. I treasure that moment between my brother & I, and know that I forever will. Also, after I made my Best Man speech, he asked that I escort him to meet our family. I was extremely honored, and asked him out of respect for his position as Emeritus Bishop of Stockholm, "How should I address and introduce you? As 'Your Eminence'? 'Bishop'? 'Right Reverend'?"
He replied simply, "Krister."
When my brother graduated from Harvard and received his PhD, Bishop Stendahl gave me his faculty ticket for the commencement ceremony. Again I was extremely honored. (and the seats were great!) Later that evening I asked Sarah and her mother if they thought Bishop Stendahl would indulge me and autograph my ticket for me. Sarah had a funny reply, "I think he'd see the humor in that. Either he will or he won't." And Sarah's Mom took the ticket to him.
Sure enough, a few weeks later, an envelope arrived with a Nantucket return address...
I would say "May God bless him..." but I have to figure he has that covered... So I will simply say, "Thank you."
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