Commentary: My friend, Cindy Bauer

I lost another friend Aug. 8. Most of those whom I've lost recently were my age or older. Cindy Bauer, however, was much younger, only 55 years old. She died in her home in Carson City of cancer.

But it is Cindy's life I want to talk about, at least the very small part of her life that I was involved in. I met Cindy when I enrolled in Dr. Ursula Carlson's memoir writing class at Western Nevada College. Cindy was on crutches and had difficulty walking because she had been in a school bus accident at age 11 and had injured her knees and hips. She suffered lifelong pain. She had had a difficult life. She also knew that she had cancer; and frequently told the class of her struggle with this disease. Cindy understood the simple fact that sharing knowledge of personal tragedy among caring friends serves as a palliative.

Pat Wachsman, Cindy's good friend and neighbor, brought Cindy to the memoir class. She was quickly embraced by other class members, including Marilyn Brandvold, her husband Gerald, Sally Mooney and all the others in the class.

From 2002-09, Cindy became an integral part of Dr. Carlson's "memoir class family," engaged in telling her life stories (in no more than three-page segments read aloud and critiqued sotto voce every week) and attended dinner at the Carson Nugget immediately after class every Tuesday. Class members rarely ever missed those dinners, even in the summer when no class was in session. As thin as Cindy was, she had an enormous appetite, and always saved a little to take home to her dogs.

Personal stories form the core of our lives. Cindy's stories were simple and powerful. She told of a sleigh ride (in Hope Valley with her family) that gave her great joy. She relayed the tale of her father buying her a car with electric windows - something she had always wanted but never had before. It gave her great joy.

I once mentioned to Cindy that I had had a business lunch at Adele's, and she said that she's always wanted to go there. I talked with Charlie Aboud, the owner, and he arranged an elegant luncheon for Cindy, presented her with a beautiful rose, and spent time talking politics and food with her. She didn't care about the politics, loved the food, and she took joy in the event and wrote about it.

Cindy's life left an indelible imprint on the lives of all who knew and loved her. Such a life will forever bend the arc of the universe toward courage, humor, grace and dignity.

Thank you, Cindy Bauer.

• Dr. Eugene T. Paslov, former Nevada Superintendent of Schools, is a board member for Silver State Charter School.