My wife Pegge and I have known Barry Crimmins for 25 years. When he signed
on to the Mark Twain Forum, I asked if he was the same Barry Crimmins that
wrote that great feature article on Mark Twain for _The Boston Phoenix_
literary section in February 1993. He was. We corresponded off list for a
while and soon became friends. The Phoenix piece was about how Barry
discovered Mark Twain, stumbling upon "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses,"
after being forced to read Cooper in grade school.

I quote the last portion of his essay:

****

Since I am writing in a literary supplement, I know I am expected to be a 
critic. Let me try to be a good one and eschew surplusage. I love 
everything Mark Twain ever wrote. If I could get hold of his laundry lists, 
I would read them.

Heavy or light, humorous or serious, long or short, all of his works speak 
to me and inform me about the world and, more important, about Samuel 
Clemens. Twain is fun to quote, better to understand. I strongly urge you 
to avail yourself of his words.

PARENTAL WARNING: the rest of this piece contains unauthorized advice to 
youth. 

In deference to younger readers, let me suggest that if you have yet to 
discover Clemens, start with some of his shorter works. The options are 
endless. There are collections of his short stories, his essays, his 
speeches, his letters, and his humorous sketches from which to choose. If 
you are really lazy, there are entire books of quotations available. Check 
the table of contents and find subjects that pique your interest. Develop 
your own opinions about his opinions.

If your, parents or teachers are encouraged that you have developed an 
interest in a great American writer, do not despair. They will probably 
have no idea what you're reading. Something about riverboats or something.

They will assume you're beginning to conform, when, in fact, you're being 
subverted. Revel in the true boldness such sedition requires. "Oh, you're 
reading Mark Twain. He was the quintessential American," they'll say. And 
you can respond with a warm, knowing smile because, if only that were true, 
America would be a quintessentially wonderful place.

Were Twain "the quintessential American," this country would be a place 
where the citizens would not be afraid to study the rest of he world before 
imposing their will upon it. Patriotism would be considered a character 
flaw. Racism, imperialism, chauvinism, sexism, monarchism, religious 
intolerance, and hypocrisy would all be regarded as reprehensible 
impediments to the development of a just and peaceful world.

The abuse of children, animals, paupers, and innocents in general would 
raise our ire the way it now seems raised only when a dictator fiddles with 
the wrong emir's oil fields. It would be a place where soulless politicians 
—-petrified by power—-would never dare invoke the memory of Samuel Langhorne 
Clemens. In fact, they would never have gained power in the first place.

America would be somewhere that old men who have suffered the countless 
sorrows and indignities life brings were honored for having the commitment 
and optimism to continue to refute conventional wisdom. Old men would be 
celebrated for possessing the bravery to divide mobs into people. That is 
what Samuel Clemens did with his last precious days. He lovingly stayed 
right in there, pitching. Anyone who's ever read Gene Schoor knows you 
can't ask any more of a person. You can quote me on that.

****

Barry was a passionate man who did not suffer fools lightly but he made an
exception in my case. He was also the first to respond when anyone needed
help. He organized countless benefits for good causes, for fellow comedians
and other friends who had illnesses, and he always showed up whenever there
was work to do. 

Barry's friend and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait made a documentary about
Barry's career and advocacy which reveals where much of his passion
originated. Warning: It is strong stuff and not for everyone. 

The trailer for the film may be viewed at:

callmeluckymovie.com

Sharp-eyed Forum members will notice a bust of Mark Twain and a copy of
Rasmussen's _Mark Twain A to Z_ on Barry's desk in one of the newspaper
clippings shown in the trailer.

On July 25, 1995, Barry Crimmins testified before a U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee, which included Strom Thurmond and Chuck Grassley, against AOL's
lax policies regarding child pornography. Footage of that hearing is
included in the film and is quite extraordinary.

We last saw Barry at the Boston premier of the film. He was deeply loved and
will be missed by all who knew him.

Kevin and Pegge Bochynski