May 29, 2004 |
Were there ever any doubt about the importance of the Chapel of the Good
Shepherd to the Roosevelt Island community, a deeply moving memorial event
last week removed it once and for all time. By then, the Rose Window had been cleaned, refurbished, and returned to the peak at the landmark’s west end. Scaffolding had been removed, the steeple had been repointed, and all that was lacking was a carillon, about which, more later. Hallie Geier had died after one of those sudden and impossibly tragic encounters with a moving vehicle and, though her family left Roosevelt Island for Sunnyside some eight years ago, Roosevelt Island is still home – among other things, the place where Hallie and her sister M.J. found and continued to exercise their acting muscle at The Main Street Theatre. It was natural, then, that Hallie’s spirit should come here to be remembered and celebrated, where it is best known. Her parents, Ted and Sofia, and M.J. and Josh chose the Chapel. Just two and a half days later, by the clock, there was not a place remaining to sit or stand within the walls of the sanctuary. For three hours, her family, extended family, classmates, mentors, and fellow thespians spoke of her lovingly. There were caring words for her family, laughter at recounting of young insights and humor... an occasion worthy of her and worthy of this Island community. There could be reason to hope that when such occasions arise, tragic or joyful, the process of scheduling the Chapel could be eased and streamlined. But it got done, and that’s what counts when that’s what’s needed. As for the carillon, these are the occasions when a consoling or joyful noise should ring out from the bell tower. It was almost to be, when a retired firefighter, an Islander, arranged for an electronic carillon to be donated. Almost, because the deal is off; almost, because in characteristic let’s-avoid-a-decision fashion, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation could not simply accept the generous gift and resolve any problems later. Instead, the matter had to be studied and stalled to death. Ah, for an elected democracy. And decisive management. But this is not intended as yet another WIRE screed about self-governance and professional Island management, as important as those matters are. It is, instead, intended to mark and recognize the place the Chapel has in our lives. Lest that suggest, however, that there are no politics involved, we must tip a hat to Assemblymember Pete Grannis, whose efforts to secure the building’s future had to find ways around years of truculent RIOC management to make sure that funding would be accepted and used. It is thanks to him that the Chapel is more viable today than it had been for years. Call it the Good Shepherd Community Center (as separation of church and state sometimes seems to demand) or the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, the building has a central and defining role in our lives here – and for that we are grateful. Dick
Lutz
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