Theodore Olbermann was a noteworthy architect, but in this media age that we live in, he became best known during the very final act of his life. It was during those weeks that his son -- the MSNBC newscaster Keith Olbermann -- used his hospital travails as a teachable moment on the urgent need for a U.S. healthcare reform that would lead to better outcomes for all. Now, there's an excellent chance that legislation will win final approval pass this week, but Theodore Olbermann did not live to see it; he died Saturday at age 80 with his son and daughter at his side. My condolences to Keith (whom, as longtime readers know, I went to high school with) and the Olbermann family. He sent me this obituary that I'm reprinting here. At the bottom is Keith Olbermann's special comment about his dad's hospitalization and his plea for reform:
Theodore C. Olbermann died, in the city of his birth, New York, Saturday. He was 80 years old.
Though the financial constraints of his youth made college infeasible, he became an architect licensed in 40 states, and practiced for 40 years. Much of his work was commercial and there was a time in the 1970's when nearly all of the Baskin-Robbins outlets in the country had been built to his design, and under his direction.
He was predeceased last year by his wife of nearly 60 years, Marie. He died peacefully after a long fight against the complications which ensued after successful colon surgery last September, with his daughter and son at his bedside, the latter reading aloud to him his favorite James Thurber short stories, as he passed.
"He was my inspiration, and will always remain so," said his son, Keith. "His bravery these last six months cannot be measured. He is as much my hero now, as he was when I was five years old."
Memorial services are pending. In lieu of flowers the family is encouraging donations to the National Association of Free Clinics.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
As regular viewers of Olbermann's Countdown, my wife and I became concerned about Keith's father almost as if he were a valued friend of ours. It is always sad when someone decent dies.— Archimedes
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---}}} and on the latter America is the best in the world. {{{--- Among western countries - America has the most unequal medical system in the world - with wide disparities based on financial status, race, and geography.— Talking point sleuth- Comment removed.
- Just a reminder that it's permissible to delete "juvenile noise," and most of you are smart enough to know what that is. But this post is a perfectly fine place to discuss the merits of healthcare -- pro or con.— will
- Comment removed.
- [Deleted -- ditto]— Talking point sleuth
- I'm not understanding the connection between Olbermann's father and Obamacare. Is he saying his father would have survived under Obamacare? If so, how?— Falls Ed
- Hey Mr. Gault, it is very obvious from your 11:55 post that you are a despicable human being. Your post is the epitome of "classless stuff". If your deleted comment was anything like your 11:55 post, you should be permanently deleted from here.— AHiredGun
My condolences to Olbermann, but I would never use the death of my father to advance my politics. Then again, I'm not a liberal. Will, I wouldn't be too confident about Obamacare passing. If they had the votes right now, they would be voting on it right now.— jmc- Condolences to Keith and his family at this sad time.— quadmom
- "but I would never use the death of my father to advance my politics." Amen.— RG
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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