A small plaque has appeared on the white wall of the Clarke Museum near where John Tutuska used to sit meditating in the sun. Tutuska, well-known and beloved by many in town, died in October, and Clarke Street Plaza overflowed with mourners several weeks after. One of his dying requests, says his friend Lynna Ridgeway, was that a plaque be placed on the wall with a saying he chose from “A Course in Miracles,” a book whose guidance he followed and shared with others.
The Clarke Museum approved the request, Ridgeway used money from Tutuska’s estate to produce the plaque, and on Dec. 7 the museum’s incoming board president, Roy Sheppard, installed it.
Ridgeway says Tutuska chose a statement from the “Course” that “means that when an old grievance is forgiven it becomes a sacred experience enlightening the time and space around it.” She adds:
“John loved his neighborhood so much that he often said there was nowhere better on earth to be. Perhaps his own heart became the holy spot on earth as he forgave his own ancient grievances while he sat in the sun and meditated on these teachings. He shared it then, and he wished to share something there at that spot that would encourage others to forgive.”
Long-time Old Town frequenters likely will recall the sign Tutuska placed in his apartment window, above Ramone’s, that simply said, “Forgive.”
This article appears in Taking Charge in Loleta.
Very nice. My eyes still go to the place where he often stood.
I am the person that cleaned and painted Johns apartment after he was gone.
I knew him for years. A very awesome man.
Even tho I did have to remove his sign from his window, I did manage to get his card, which had a picture of him on it.
I placed that card in his kitchen window, facing the sun, as it should be. Rest in peace John.
You will be missed by many.
Everybody knows the ancient hatreds at Third and E Streets in Eureka. Yet, I suspect the native people would have chosen respect over “love”.
Why does it have to be either/or, Anonymous?
It pleased me very much to see Roy placing this message on the Clarke Museum wall December 7, 2012 where John blessed our neighborhood. John chose it from the pages he loved, and never tired of passing the Course wisdom onto all who would receive it. Hopefully we who love John will linger here a while and chat with each other as we seek enlightenment, and share it with each other. I believe John would like that very much. Had I died of the heart attack I suffered on 12/4, I would have missed seeing this. Now I will have good news for John that the plaque has been placed. He said he’d safe me a seat, so I will certainly see him again.
“Why does it have to be either/or, Anonymous?”.
Maybe there was no room on the plaque.
“Love” is purely emotional and emotion is the most tenuous of human bonds.
“Respect” has a far simpler, clearer meaning in combating hatred and intolerance.
Invocations of deities and vague, overused and abused emotional terms, earned their place on Hallmark cards long ago.