In Memoriam: Jeanne Robinson, 1948-2010

[thatcrazycajun]

Everyone (or at least everyone who matters in my circles) knows that the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon series of short stories and novels—and the whole sub-subculture it has spawned, on- and offline, among those who consider themselves "Callahanians" (in whose number Your Humble Correspondent proudly counts himself)—is the creation of Hugo Award winner Spider Robinson. But even those who've savored the exploits of enigmatic time traveler Mike Callahan and his extended family, or Spider's other writings and his musical compositions, may not be fully aware of just how much they owe to the woman beside (most certainly not behind!) the man: Spider's equally gifted writer/dancer/choreographer wife, Jeanne. (And if you haven't read this series, what on God's green and pleasant Earth—or any other planet—are you waiting for?!? Start here. You'll thank me later, trust me.)

Jeanne has spent the past year and more fighting biliary cancer, and you may have heard about various fannish efforts to raise funds for her medical bills. On Sunday this past, Jeanne finally lost her battle and died at the age of 62, with her beloved husband, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter at her side. Spider himself has posted a blog entry on her passing here.

Needless to say, the hearts, thoughts and prayers of all of us who have enjoyed the Robinsons' work, both singly and together, go out to them and theirs in this exceedingly difficult hour. They will also likely still need help defraying Jeanne's final expenses, and you should refer to the blog for further information on doing so.

And Spider, if you should by some chance read this: I am so very sorry, on my own behalf and that of my Songbird, who is also a fan. As you wrote so eloquently: "Shared pain is pain lessened; shared joy is joy multiplied. Thus do we refute entropy." All of us are sharing your pain now, even if we cannot personally conceive how bad it is unless we have lost a close family member.

Comments

[maverick-weirdo.livejournal.com]

I had heard that they canceled con appearances this past spring for health reasons, I had no idea it was that bad.

She was much too young