Photo Credit: Joy Brown
Last week we lost a one of a kind in Richard Wanderman. Richard was the founder of this site LDResources.org back in the 90’s. He was a potter, a rock climber, a photographer and an educational technologist. You can find some of his writings and photography at RichardsNotes.org
He also happened to be dyslexic. Richard was generous in sharing what he knew from a personal and professional perspective. He marched to his own beat and could make complex and nuanced ideas easily understood.
He was a husband and family man who was cherished by many. He was instrumental in setting up and advising schools across the country on computer labs and overall approaches to using technology to help students with dyslexia learn better.
Brain cancer come on pretty suddenly this winter.
This beautiful song/poem below from Bill Lauf, Richard’s dear friend.
SLEEP, FRIEND, SLEEP. (Adapted from Sleep, George, Sleep)
Sleep friend, sleep. Your wings are fine.
The world was ours, and now, only mine
I was caught pretending that life goes on
So sleep, friend, sleep when you’re gone
Dream, I dream dreams of you
When our song wasn’t blue
We were happy blending chords ’til dawn
Dream, friend, dream when you’re gone
Nothing haunts like the mystery
Of passing to history
And soul upon soul such an endless sea
Of lives, loves, pains and passions
See, friend, see, I am here
In this gray atmosphere
I am winding my way too
See, friend, see I love you
See, friend, see I love you
Thank you Richard for all you’ve been. I hope you’re still at the wheel up in heaven.
Richard Wanderman taught me (and many others) about the potential of technology to help students with disabilities, and his inspiration and insights have helped me support the needs of thousands of students over the past three decades. He made a massive difference in my life and theirs. He is missed.
Thanks Mark. Richard was a good friend and a remarkable and inspiring teacher. He always helped me tug at the edges and see something differently. Often it was something “hiding in plain sight.”
Sanford