Fun activities
I interviewed Candy, a friend of Lynne’s about their time together at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 1996. I am grateful for her memories full of Lynne’s fun and professional skills. I sent her an image of an article about recruiting talent for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation published in the Seattle Times on October 17, 1996 Titled, “Want to Work for Gates?” The front page was in a 11 x 17 picture frame with a photograph of recent hires when the foundation was rapidly expanding from an influx of donations. The frame was given to Lynne when she retired from the foundation to work as a special education teacher. The back of the frame was filled with farewells and signatures of her fellow workers.
Candy asked how to contact Lynne for a video chat. Lynne’s phone messages show Candy called later that afternoon at 1:27, 1:28, 1:35 and 1:35. Lynne missed each of those calls. Candy’s persistent. She called the next day at 3:06 pm and missed her, and finally connected at 4:02 pm for a 23 minute and 50 second phone call.
Candy sent me this email, which is how I discovered she’d dedicated herself to connect with Lynne while she still remembers:
“I talked to Lynne via video chat today. It was so great. She remembered me well and was really present and we reminisced about old times. I’ll call her once a week and told her she can call me at any time.
Once they open on the CV19 restrictions, I’ll do walks with her and go visit.
Thank you, thank you for this re-connection. In gratitude, Candy.”
As Lynne’s dad, I’m unable to resurrect those intimate stories that still exist in the great majority of Lynne’s long term memory. I’m thrilled she can share good times in normal conversations with friends. I thanked Candy for her persistence I replied, “That’s as good as it gets for me right now. Thanks for letting me know.”
I asked it I could share this and she said, “Happy for you to do so.”
Lynne hired me at the foundation in 2006. It was my first real office job, and it happened because Lynne took a chance on me – she quite literally changed my life. Working for her was exhilarating, exhausting and oh so much fun. She’s one of those unique personalities who really ‘gets’ people, wouldn’t put up with bs but was so kind and engaging that you couldn’t even be mad about it. I admired her so much (still do!) and I am so glad to read this blog and keep up. Thank you!