That is the title of a booklet he created for students preparing to speak to an audience. And it is exactly how he lived his life.
At age 10 he built his first crystal set receiver, expanding his world and sparking a lifelong love of music and communication. Ham Radio gave him a global perspective. It also gave him the skills he used as a radioman on a destroyer during WWII and to make a living during the McCarthy era.
Mary, Travis, Sheila and Frank Lafferty grew up in Oakland, with an enlightened mother who encouraged their artistic and intellectual development. At UC Berkeley, he majored in political science and minored in English, fueling an appreciation for literature and dedication to political activism. It was there that he met Noriko Ikeda, passing out political leaflets at Sather Gate. He later joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) where he met people from all parts of the country, dug trails, fought fires, and gained an appreciation of the outdoors.
Travis and Nori married on April 1, 1943. Together, they created a vibrant family life, and spent many summers camping and hiking their beloved Tuolomne Meadows with their sons Travis and Michael. Travis returned to UC Berkeley for his teaching credential and taught Junior High for a brief period. Travis and Nori were committed to peace and justice and spent much of their lifetime working with organizations that focused on workers' rights, anti-war activism, and the civil rights movement.
Even in his eighties and nineties, Travis continued his dedication to the community by volunteering at Allendale Elementary and tutoring students.
He was a loving grandfather and great grandfather, always there to support and encourage their artistic and educational pursuits.
I grew up next door, living my whole life until I moved away to college knowing "Mr. Lafferty". He was always kind, thoughtful, and encouraging.
ReplyDeleteI remember being amazed at the range of things he could do. There was the boat he built in the driveway which I watched form with interest both from afar, and sitting in the driveway watching him work. There was the basketball hoop of with a concrete base. Some of the neighborhood kids immortalized themselves writing their names in the concrete (I'm not sure all of them had his permission, though!). When it was time to move the concrete base, we found it was too heavy to move, but Travis had the solution. He put small wooden dowels under it and we rolled it across the driveway. Playing basketball in the driveway with the completed hoop was great fun. I don't know how we kept the ball from going off the parking pad and down the steep slopes on either side. My memory isn't that good.
One of the biggest thrills Travis gave me was loaning me his big short wave radio receiver. We set it up in our basement and I spent hours trolling the airwaves. It had thousands of buttons and dials which also made it a great exciting thing for a boy of my age.
We had a large apple tree which grew right outside the kitchen windows of Travis and Nori's house. I used to spend a lot of time climbing that tree and I never really thought about whether it bothered the neighbors to see me sitting right outside their window. The tree was a great home and I don't recall ever seeing them looking scornful from their window, only a few feet away.
Travis and Nori were great neighbors to have. I recall always being impressed by how much Travis knew about seemingly everything. I grew up and left for UC Berkeley, not knowing that he had attended there until I read the announcement of his passing. My condolences to Nori, Mike, Travis and the rest of the family.
Travis volunteered in my classes at Allendale School for many years. He was a great help to me and a joy to the children. They all loved him. What ever I was teaching he would get into it and always have something to share and offer.
ReplyDeleteI remember I was teaching a unit on "Long Ago" in First Grade and he brought many old tools to share and told stories about how things were done when he was young. The kids got to hold all the tools and were truly enchanted by his
efforts.
He was very good at taking aside any child who was struggling with reading or math and really turned into a tutor to that child. They could always depend on him to help them.
I was just going through my old teaching materials to give them to the daughter
of a friend of mine who is starting a teaching career. There was a hand made
book which was given to me when I retired. One of the pictures was of Travis in
front of the class reading a story to the children.
Volunteers in the classroom make such a difference for the teacher and for the
children. Travis was more than a volunteer. He really took some children under his wing and helped them beyond my class and all the way up until they were applying for college with his ideas. "Loud and Clear with Feeling".
Sincerely, Jean Bassel
When I opened the card and saw Travis’s smiling face above the words “Truth, Justice, Freedom, Love” I was filled with emotion and memories. Travis was everything listed on the back of the card, but to me more than anything he was a teacher. I began my teaching career at Allendale Elementary School, where I taught from 1994-98. My colleagues Jean Bassel and Miki Morimoto soon became treasured mentors. Travis volunteered in both of their classrooms, so I soon learned first hand the value of a trusted volunteer.
ReplyDeleteIn 1997-98, my colleague Angela Aquino and I “borrowed” Travis for a class project our second and third graders were doing. They created a book about their neighborhood called “Community Treasures: Discovering Our Community in Oakland,” which was published by Thomas Bros. Maps. An entire chapter was devoted to “Travis Lafferty: Senior Volunteer at Allendale.” Here are some of their stories:
“This is Mr. Lafferty (caption next to a photo). He has lived in Oakland many years. He has pictures of his school when it was called McChesney. There was a store near his school. He didn’t have TV and they didn’t have chairs like we have now. He has many stories about his past. They played Kick the Can.” – Jesus Vargas
“Thanks for telling us how Oakland used to look like. It was funny when you told us when you put the girls’ hair in the ink. Thanks for coming!” – Love, Juvenal Gallegos
“I really appreciated it when you came to Ms. Aquino’s class telling us how old Oakland looked like a long time ago. I enjoyed your company. I told my mom that you talked about how Oakland looked like. She said she wished she was here to see you talk about Oakland.” – Tiffany Marie Hines
“Thank you for telling us the story of long ago. I hope they don’t hit us with rulers.” – Abigail Briseno
“Daisy liked your pictures and you were handsome in the photo. I liked your story about school. The girls couldn’t wear pants and the boys could. The teachers didn’t have anything made of plastic.” – Love, Maria Barajas
“Thank you for coming. I like your story about school. You couldn’t make ‘sloppy copies’ because you had to use pen and ink.” –Love, Daniel Briones
“I wished the Hokey Pokey man was in the streets today. It was funny when the girls’ hair was in the ink and their hair got caught in the washing machine. The name of the car was funny. I wish I saw one on the streets.” – Ernesto
In an age when children are treated as little more than test scores, Travis saw them as individual, creative little beings who deserved respect, attention, and plenty of love. The world needs more people like Travis – people who live their lives in a way that models to others the values of truth, justice, freedom and love.
One of my last memories of Travis is of going to visit him and Nori several years ago. He was up on his roof cleaning something from the gutter. Age wasn’t something to get in the way of doing what needed to be done! I remember he gave me a poster of Cesar Chavez that day, and I treasure it still.
My love and condolences to Nori and all the family,
Betty Olson-Jones
My memories include when I first started being his tenant and heard the saxophone playing from his garage. He was just playing away (and pretty good mind you). When we chatted he explained how he was taking up the saxophone (at the time he was in his early 80's!).
ReplyDeleteI still convey this story to people because its so HIM - an inspirational person. It inspired my husband who took up piano at 37.
There are so many meaningful things about his life. Whenever I would visit I KNEW I would get an intellectual and passionate discussion. He pushed me to be the same in my life. The way he challenged himself (with saxophone, reading poetry in French, knowing current political issues nationally and locally) challenged me.
I remember him always keeping busy, asking me what I was DOING - pushing me as the artist or the person fighting to help people. The way he lived life inspires me in how I live my life. I am so grateful to have known him and have him as a role model.
He is someone who always kept me on my toes!!!
What a wonderful spirit.
With love,
Roxanne Chester