Ned Vare, a homeschool activist in Connecticut, used to post eye-opening messages on NHEN’s former discussion list, NHEN-Legislative. That list … faded …, but my memories of Ned’s posts (still ‘living’ here — just search for “Vare”) haven’t.
Freak Power: Ned Vare reflects on a special time in American politics and culture, 8 May 2007, Clinton Recorder, Guilford, Connecticut
Though it cast a big shadow, Aspen was a small town in the 1970s. The resort town in the Colorado Rockies also was a haven for free spirits, including the late Hunter S. Thompson, the “gonzo journalist” who ran for sheriff on the so-called “Freak Power” ticket. On that same party ticket was a young man named Ned Vare. …
Thompson and Vare shared an office and became friends when Thompson (who was eventually immortalized as “Uncle Duke” – the character in the Doonesbury cartoon) played volleyball one Sunday afternoon at Woody Creek. Vare said Thompson’s banter – and Denver Bronco games – opened his eyes about conventional wisdom. “These people didn’t believe anybody,” he said. “They helped to peel away all the bull. I got to meet a lot of people (in Aspen) and I read the paper and meet the people doing things,” Vare said.
I’m saddened to see that Ned is ill, and I hope ‘modern medicine’ is doing its best for him.
He wrote his first two books on golf 10 years ago, but his main passion is children and how the public schools and formal education aren’t doing the job. A deadly pulmonary disease has kept him from the links recently, but he still travels to homeschooling affirs where he and his wife, Luz Shosie speak. He has appeared 20 times on public access television on the subject and writes books, magazine articels and newspaper columns.
Pulmonary fibrosis, which led to Marlon Brando’s death at 80, makes Vare’s days short.
“I’m not getting any better, baby,” he said. “This thing just kills people.”
1970s-era photo is at The Great Thompson Hunt.
Thanks for all your old NHEN-Leg posts, Ned.
posted by Valerie
Judy Aron said on May 11, 2007
Deborah Stevenson and I have known Ned and Luz for years.. they are somewhat of a homeschooling institution here in CT. They have done much to protect homeschooling rights in CT and we too are very saddened to hear of Ned’s illness and pray for his ability to keep up his fight against it.