For his 75th birthday,
Julian Baird sent out an unusual invitation. "As you now know, I have been diagnosed with Leukemia with an indeterminate life expectancy. HOWEVER, I shall certainly live to see my 75th
Birthday and perhaps another beyond that. But I have decided that 75 is a big deal. It is a very respectable age to have lived the very full life that I have had to date. I have decided that I do not wish to be toasted after
I am gone, but rather be roasted at a wonderful party that I can personally enjoy and attend while I am still with us all. So you are invited to a helluva big event on the Sunday when you and many others that I am inviting can come.
Chamber music by members of the
Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra (piano and musical programming by our
Cape Cod Conservatory Director Stephanie Weaver.)
Jazz group by
CCSO members. And for a special treat, some music by
James Montgomery and his lead guitarist of the James Montgomery
Blues Band (
Jimmy is a much beloved former student of mine in my old
B.U. teaching days.) A delicious
New England themed buffet dinner, and after everyone is seated with this and has been suitably satiated, a little roasting of Julian (hopefully reasonably benign) by persons representing important times and favored activities of my life so far. There is a dance floor, and music, dancing and libations will be available until the
Cape Codder Resort will close us down. I suspect that none of us will last that long, but it will be there for anyone who wishes. I am expecting well over
100 friends at this, so you never know. So I am delighted that you can join me for my 75th Birthday
Bash!!! No gifts -- just your presence.
Julian"
I met the one and only Julian Baird my freshman year at
Boston University. He was teaching
Humanities at
DGE. Coming from a small town in
Texas, Julian had gone to
Harvard on a scholarship, then to
Oxford and finally returned to Harvard for his graduate work - all on scholarships. To say he was bright, a genius, is to not really encompass the concept. Then after the politics of
John Silber, the new BU
President, Julian left academia and decided to buy an art gallery/knickknack store in
Orleans MA.
Based on his gift for understanding art, and understanding how to communicate it - he became one of the most successful dealers on the Cape, and as you'll hear in this loving testament, changed the lives of those who came into his orbit.
When I got the invite, I asked if he had anyone recording the event for posterity. Apologies for sound and lighting, this was done on the fly, and is labeled "
Part One" because I got an extended interview with him the following day that covers everything, from
Greek History to
Beowulf, from his journey from Texas to the hallowed halls of Harvard, from his coin flip to decide whether to go to
Yale or Harvard to becoming one of the most beloved people on Cape Cod. So this is just a taste of Julian Baird - hence it is a portrait that is not yet complete, but will be soon.
Stay tuned for part deux!
- published: 12 Apr 2013
- views: 775