Today: Westport Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Virtually with Layla F. Saad, Best Selling Author, at Noon
From the Westport Public Library:
The Westport Library, The Westport Country Playhouse, TEAM Westport, The Westport/Weston Interfaith Council and the Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy celebrate the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a conversation with Layla F. Saad.
This is a virtual event. The event is free; PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
Saad, celebrated author of the groundbreaking book Me and White Supremacy, will discuss her work with TEAM Westport’s Bernicestine McLeod Bailey.
As a widely read writer, a globally sought speaker, and a national podcast host, Layla F. Saad is passionate about creating inspiration, education and activation for personal and collective change in the world. Her work is driven by a powerful desire to become a good ancestor; to live and work in ways that leave a legacy of healing and liberation, especially for Black girls and Black women.
Me and White Supremacy: A 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor, an anti-racism education workbook, was initially self-published and offered for free in an Instagram challenge. It debuted on the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers list and has sold nearly one million copies.
Saad is an East African, Arab, British, Black, Muslim woman who was born and grew up in the West, and lives in the Middle East.
Bernicestine McLeod Bailey is President and Founder of McLeod Associates, Inc., an information technology consulting firm. Prior to McLeod, she was a Systems Engineer with IBM. She is also Vice President for Operations of Aisha & Co. LLC, a family gift company whose signature product is Ishababies®, a line of multicultural plush dolls. In the volunteer arena, she is the Chair of the Board of The Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community in Bridgeport, CT. She has served as a Director of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, as Director of the Westport Library, as Secretary of the REACH Prep Board, and Treasurer of the Mid-Fairfield County Dress for Success Board. She is the Immediate Past President of the Fairfield County Chapter of The Links Inc. and past president of the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association. Bernicestine is an alumna and trustee emerita of Brown University.
James Shukie, 70
James S. Shukie, age 70, of Newtown, CT beloved husband of Margaret “Peggy” Conlisk Shukie for 45 years, passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Jim lived in an extraordinary life and had a positive impact on everyone that was fortunate enough to know him. Its with joy that we look back on his fulfilling achievements and life.
Jim was born in Westport, CT on December 10, 1950 to the late John and Mabel Clark Shukie. Jim attended Assumption elementary school in Westport before attending Fairfield Preparatory School, graduating in 1968.
Jim earned his master’s degree and sixth year from Fairfield University in American Studies & Administration. He remains a member of President Circle of Fairfield University to this day. Jim met his future wife and love of his life, Peggy, at Fairfield University. Peggy and Jim wed in 1976, and eventually settled in Easton, CT where they raised their four treasured sons.
Jim was head coach for each of his four boys, Chris, Brian, Kyle, and Colin at various times in multiple sports as they grew up. His sons were encouraged to find their passion in sports. Jim spent countless hours with his boys playing whiffle ball or any other sport imaginable in his side yard with friends, neighbors, and relatives.
Jim began his life-long career in Education where he served as Principal at St. Louis School in West Haven, CT. Jim was beloved by all and left a legacy wherever he went, particularly at Eastern Middle School of Greenwich, CT. There, Jim taught social studies prior to becoming assistant principal until his retirement in 2016. Jim was well known as “THE speaker” at 8th grade graduation, bringing light to current events through his lens of history and where he always had the last “word”. Upon his retirement, he left a long-lasting legacy that reflected his love for education.
Jim loved spending his time and energy in places he called home. In addition to Connecticut, Jim maintained a vacation home in West Dover, Vermont with Peggy, where friends and family often flocked throughout the years, after skiing, to celebrate New Year’s, gather the grandchildren, or find seclusion. Jim served as President of the Lake Raponda Homeowners Association where he took a heartfelt interest in preserving the environmental integrity of the lake. It was at Lake Raponda where he enjoyed kayaking and captaining his pontoon boat, ‘The Patriot’, named after his favorite football team. In addition, Jim had a love for all things landscaping, never missing an opportunity to use his chain saw and weedwhacker. His newfound time in retirement, also offered him the ability to serve as a Trustee for Easton Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
Jim loved listening to classic rock of the 60s and 70s and had a life-long passion for drumming. His favorite artists included The Beatles, John Denver, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Elton John, Billy Joel, and Garth Brooks to name a few.
It was hard to keep Jim down. Jim was always upbeat and brought a positive energy to the room when he walked in. He was affectionately known as “Pop Pop” by his six grandchildren and will be forever missed by his family and friends.
Survivors, in addition to his wife Peggy, include: his son Chris and wife Chelsea along with their children Ella Grace and Caitlin O’Hara of Winchester, MA; his son Brian of Danbury, CT; his son Kyle and wife Bethany of Woburn, MA; his son Colin and wife Christy along with their children Samuel James, Jonah Gabriel, Eliza Jeanne and John Paul Patrick of Lakewood, CO; his brother, John and wife Mary of Baltimore, MD; his brother-in-law, Patrick and wife Addie Conlisk of Setauket, NY; and his many nieces, nephews, and great nieces, and nephews.
Friends are invited to a walk-through visitation on Tuesday, January 19th from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm in THE GREGORY F. DOYLE FUNERAL HOME, 291 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford, CT 06460. Please follow current pandemic concerns by wearing a mask and keeping social distance. It is asked that you kindly enter the funeral home and leave through the rear doors after greeting the family to accommodate all visitors. The Funeral Mass at St. Pius X Church in Fairfield, CT will be live-streamed on Wednesday January 20th, 2021 at 11am. It will be live-streamed on St Pius X Church YouTube channel and on Facebook. The link is the following, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC23Bnvkj9rXL0_EJ8RDhwBw
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations: Easton Volunteer EMS Inc, http://eastonems.com/about-us/donate/and and Lake Raponda Environmental Foundation: https://raponda.org/foundation.html.
Evening Clouds Over the Compo Cannons
Although cloud cover hid most of this evening’s sunset, they gave a beautiful backdrop to late afternoon walks along the seawall at Compo Beach.