The California State Library Foundation is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Kevin Starr on Saturday. Dr. Starr was California’s premier historian and advocate, as well as the State Librarian under three administrations. Tributes are pouring in over Facebook and Twitter. Stay tuned as the State Library and the Foundation plan to honor this larger-than-life librarian and lover of history.
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I met Dr. Kevin Starr through Bessie Tischaur and SusanStienhauser (Thank you Bessie, Thank you Susan Steinhauser). We were working on an after school, library resources bill authored by then Assemblyman Carl Washington (Thank you Carl). For a super nerdy, the library has been my ‘vacation Bible school’ for a deacde plus kid like me, it was like meeting an actual rock star. The fact that I knew who he was, had read-sometime in my youth-an article he wrote on Governor Brown-the Jesuit order-Moonbeams, etc was a highlight to my then 10-year romance (Started at Youth in Govt YMCA) with all things state capitol (the red velet, the green carpet, the people’s house). We struck up a conversational friendship and talked many times about the state of the world, the equality of food at the LOB cafeteria and history (of course). He took sometime one day to have lunch with me in the upstairs cafeteria in the L.O.B. To say that I was in awe of this guy is an understatement. Later one of my best friends, Lucy Okumu (Thanks Lucy) who had keenly observed my fan boy stance on Starr brought me a signed copy of California, A History. So when I heard Dr. Starr passed it moved me to sadness and a type of joy that I had the opportunity to question him, learn from his perspective and share my own with him. For that and all you’ve done, thanks Dr. Starr.
Great background on the reach of his influence, Angelo! Thanks for sharing!