This past Tuesday evening, the Kent community lost one of its more distinguished members. Gordon F. Vars, 88, retired Kent State University education professor, was hit by a car while walking across the street to his home and killed. I knew him from both my church community at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent and from his environmental activism in fighting to preserve the Kent Bog State Nature Preserve from encroaching development that could have threatened its fragile ecosystem. Gordon was tireless in his advocating for the Bog, going so far as to found the Friends of the Kent Bog advocacy group to join his voice with others in working to preserve the Bog for future generations. Gordon also led regular tours through the Bog to point out its unique flora and fauna to visitors and provided seasonal brochures to walkers as to what to look for along its walking path as the seasons changed. He was tireless in his work to save an asset that he felt so strongly about and never let up advocating for it and for other environmental causes. He was an active member of the Kent Environmental Council as well. When I received the sad news of his passing, I began trying to think of some way to honor this man who I admired so much and considered to be a good friend and a bit of a father figure. So I contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and asked them if they might consider naming the walking path at the Bog in his name, to forever honor his years and years of advocacy on behalf of the Bog, and quite surprisingly, they agreed. So on the day of Gordon's memorial service, we will have a ceremony at the Bog to dedicate the newly renamed Gordon Vars Memorial Walkway at the Tom S. Cooperrider Kent Bog State Nature Preserve. I am so glad that I was able to find a way to honor Dr. Vars for the many years he spent advocating for preservation of the Bog. May he rest in eternal peace, knowing how deeply respected and loved he was by his community. We will miss you, Gordon.
Another person we lost this morning was local artist Bob Wood, 68. Many around town saw him as something of an eccentric and didn't really understand him. His appearance made him seem like some sort of old hippie and many of us called him a nickname which I won't share here because of one of his many odd habits, but underneath the misunderstood veneer lay the soul of a fascinating man who I only got to know fairly recently by offering him rides places and talking to him on occasion. Bob was a unique, intelligent, witty and gentle man. Once I got to know him, I knew that many around town didn't quite understand him because they just never got a chance to know him. I can't say I knew him well, but I did get a peek under his odd exterior to find someone who I came to really enjoy talking to and sharing a laugh on occasion. He was an award winning artist who in his time was probably not appreciated enough for the level of talent he had and it is my hope that his passing that he will finally receive the appreciation and recognition that he so richly deserves. What will happen to his artwork is anybody's guess, but I do hope that some of it ends up in local museums for future generations to admire. Bob was certainly someone that, if you lived in Kent, you knew. Some here referred to him as "local color", but at the end of the day, he was a kind, gentle, talented, fascinating and funny man who I wish more people had gotten to know. Sure, he seemed a tad eccentric, but underneath that was someone very special. I'm glad I had the chance to get to know him, not well, but at least to become acquainted with who he was and what he had to offer in the way of a good conversation. He will be missed and I do hope that he receives the recognition as an artist that I feel that he so richly deserves. Farewell, Bob, it was great getting to know you. You were a kind and decent man and I'll miss you.
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