Joan Mann’s death last week at age 97 stirred my emotions because she was such a special person.

After moving to the peninsula in 1991, I soon met Joan and her husband, the Rev. John Mann. They had recently retired from leadership at St. Peter’s Church, Seaview, and St. John’s Church, South Bend, but continued to play active roles in the community.

Being an Episcopalian of the non-going-to-church variety, it was in social settings that I came to know John and Joan. They each were exemplars of a deep but lighthearted faith in God and humankind. It was fun and enlightening to see them. After a period of mourning following John’s death in 2003, Joan picked herself up and went onto nearly 20 more years of good living.

We also lost last week our former congressman, Don Bonker, about whom Steve Forrester will offer a recollection in this week’s edition of the Chinook Observer.

Don left office before my time, but I recall an enjoyable conversation with him when my daughter and I were in Washington, D.C. in January 2009. Along with Naselle Rex Ziak and others, Don was responsible for the negotiations that led to preserving the remaining ancient western red cedars on Long Island in Willapa Bay.

The tough but mostly unsung work of bringing people together for our shared benefit was Don’s specialty. His accomplishments will be enjoyed here on the south Washington coast long after most people have forgotten his name. Building a legacy without striving for credit is a rare trait in an elected official.

Our communities are products of countless similar acts of selfless tending to interpersonal alliances, moving us all forward a little at a time. At the Observer we make it our mission to celebrate such integrity whenever we encounter it.

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