A writer’s daughter writes

EDITOR:

For almost two decades, my father,Tom Maskell, wrote letters to The Vindicator. I truly appreciate how many of them were published in these pages. Over the years, he would write a letter and, upon seeing it published, would compare the final version to his original to learn from the changes. My father was an engineer and never formally trained as a writer, yet he was always writing and working toward being a better writer. Even before publishing his book, he saw himself as a writer, and he was proud of each letter printed in your paper.

Over the years, many people who had never met him, would say to me that they had seen his writing. Through your printing of his letters (essentially small columns on issues such as politics and economics), my father was able to hone his skills as a writer, and also generate conversation among those he met in the community.

While going through my father’s office in the past days, I found a binder labeled “Editorials.” Inside were printouts of his writings dating back to 1988 and letters he sent to The Vindicator since 1993. In my 30 years of living, I learned very many things from my father, but there was so much more he had to give. Prior to his funeral, I went online to print out recently published letters of my dad’s, surprised at how many there were ... likely close to 40, some of which I am sad to say I’m not sure I’d read.

How many of us wish that we could have more time with our loved ones after their lives here with us have ended? When my father passed away earlier this month, I ran out of time to hear what he had to tell me. But in these letters I can always find the thoughts and words of my father, his ideas, opinions and analysis. So, thank you — not only for assisting in my father’s own learning during his life, but also for committing his thoughts to print so that I have time to see what I still have to learn.

JAIME MASKELL

Poland