Why do bad things happen to good people

Carol Chomsky, Noam's wife of 59 years, died on Friday.  All love, respect, condolences, and strength to him and the rest of their family.

I've thought many times of the personal sacrifices Noam Chomsky has made over the years to give so much of himself to all of us.  But they weren't his alone—they were in large part his family's as well, and in particular his wife's.  So to Carol, too late: thank you so much for making those sacrifices for millions of complete strangers, like me.  It's made a real difference.

The Boston Globe has a good obituary, with a look at both her remarkable personal and professional life.

ADDING: My grandparents were married for 70 years.  In the last few years of her life, my grandmother had Alzheimer's.  My grandfather was the last person she could recognize...and even after she no longer seemed to, he'd go to her bedside and hold her hand, and call her his sweetheart, and beam at her like they were still 18, not in their 90's.  She was so much a part of him that when she finally died we knew he wouldn't be with us very much longer either, and it was true.

I can only imagine what it must be like to wake up that first morning and know that your companion of 70 years, or 59, is no longer there with you and never will be again.

Comments

[KDelphi]

I saw that! I loved Chomsky's stuff, and wondered how old she is/was?

Death comes to all, but it does seem to me that good, decent people suffer these losses sooner, and, often in more painful circumstances. I called Kucinich, who just lost his second sibling in two years, to express empathy. ( I do not think that Carol was young---but , didnt Strom Thurmon live to be 101?)Chomsky is a man of great heart.

Like Lewis Black said, "Only the good die young..pricks live forever!".

I have , only, two sisters left--on the East Coast--i'm in the Rust Belt--and they do not come home. Grateful to be with my "boyfriend" (sounds wierd) of 20 years,but, being with his family is rather sad for me. My family all died pretty young, under pretty wierd circumstances. Wont go into it all, but, it certainly "colors" my "holidays". I worry not about what dreams may come--I just miss them.

Love to Chomsky...

[Duncan]

The Globe obituary is very interesting (though I noticed they called the New Yorker's 2003 hatchet job on Noam a "profile"). What a pair of wonderful, brilliant, fascinating people.

[John Caruso]

KDelphi: Thanks for sharing that. And yes, it does seem to me too that good, decent people suffer these losses sooner (thus the title). Yet more proof to me that there's no sane or loving god.

[sadie]

oh no! How sad.

I have heard that it is so much more common for wives to outlive their husbands. but I notice that Roz Zinn also passed before Howard.

I am holding Noam in my heart today.

[KDelphi]

Thanks, John. Like Holden Caulfield said, "If there is a god ,he's a real shit!".