75 Years of Friendship
(Hear this letter read on YouTube in Letters to Louie with Sally Jensen and Abbey Algiers.)
On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 9:21 AM,
James Algiers <james.algiers@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Louie,
It’s more difficult to sit down and write, but this is just to say hello on a cool summer Sunday morning. Today, we celebrate our 63 wedding anniversary: a great privilege and a very nice ride for all these years.
Looking back, many things might have been changed, but who knows if the end would have been better? I doubt it. It seems that water does seek its own level, and we rise only as far as our native intelligence and background allow. Having come from southeastern Wisconsin and never straying for any appreciable time, we should be and really are satisfied with the balance of blessings and forfeiture of human frailties.
Next week is filled with some apprehension. Doro is set to have a post-cataract procedure for post-capsular opacities of her eyes. The past few weeks have been difficult, with reduced vision and apprehension. Hope for the best.
Will write soon after tomorrow's meeting of the County Board of Health. Also have started to nag city hall over a real change of status here in Hartford.
Jim
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On Aug 17, 2014, at 11:42 AM, Louis Frey wrote:
Dear Dr. Algiers,
This is Mary writing:
I regret to inform you in the way my father would have stated it. "The firm of Patty and Louis Frey has been completely dissolved."
Dad passed away very peacefully this morning. Kathy and I were by his side, and he opened his eyes as if to make sure that it was okay.
He had been sleeping 24 hours pretty much non-stop before this, and while he had trouble breathing, he was never in pain.
He asked that I let you know. While he was still able to read your emails, they were the one thing that helped him get through the days. If his computer was down, he would call me and ask me to 'please come and fix it' so he could check if there was an email from you.
We are not planning a service; he did not want one. He would sadly add, 'There is no one left to come.' All we can now do is celebrate the amazing man he was and enjoy the memories.
My best to you and your family.
Mary and Kathy Frey
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From: James Algiers <james.algiers@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Morning
Date: August 18, 2014, at 11:14:35 AM CDT
To: Louis Frey
Mary, Kathy,
I am so sorry to learn of my Friend's death. Louie was a special friend for nigh onto 75 years, and I so remember many episodes of friendship, from riding to the football field on the back of a flatbed truck with Louie and the size ten shoes, the leather helmet, and wire-rimmed glasses, our friend Dale Melius likewise garmented, and I at 98 pounds with myopia. No true athlete in the bunch.
Then after realization, Louie became the student, the debater, the politician with poor tolerance for Slinger beer, purchased from the rear of Ikes tavern at the age of 16. Never caught it; I always get sick after swigging beer. But my friend died, and I felt so sorry last night. I will miss him and his short replies to my nonsensical writing.
Ladies, he was special. I am so sorry for your losses these past two years.
May he rest in peace; my friend will be missed, but he will inspire me to think good thoughts on many varied subjects.
May he and your Mother be reunited in the Great Beyond.
Dr. Jim Algiers
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On Monday, August 18, 2014
James Algiers wrote:
Dear Charles,
If you haven’t heard, Louie Frey died on August 18 from congestive failure. His daughter Mary wrote and informed me. I had written to Louie for many years, and he more or less was my stimulus to write and keep the brain functioning.
Using the letters "Letters to Louie," I would introduce memories from the past, recent societal thoughts, and just plain talking sessions on local T.V.-- called the program "Letters to Louie."
Now, no more Louie. I felt very close to him for the past four or more years, and he was a message at the end of the day on the electrons of the email. I only spoke to him once or twice a year but wrote every two weeks for a number of years. As his health failed, he looked forward to hearing about the project and receiving letters.
From the first days of freshman year, I was always fond of Louie, from riding down to the West Park on the back of a flatbed truck from the Central Chev garage, with Louie seated between Dale Melius and myself. In my mind’s eye, I can still envision him: small, thin, nearsighted, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, a helmet of leather, too large, and shoes, mind you, size ten, on feet of sevens.
He and Melius lasted about two days, and when they nearly fell from the flatbed, Hal Beatty thought best of a liability investment without a return. He suggested they become “co-managers;” they turned in the "uniforms" and spent the time after school at Casey's Central Drug. Later, after graduation, I believe he became Jack Schnorenberg's friend until Jack died.
One night a few years later, on my first date with Dorothy, Louie took us home from the Knotty Pine. At that time, there was no taxi, and I had no taxi money. His kind ride home was instrumental in our courtship. Strange, but Louie died on the 63 anniversary of our marriage yesterday.
And now you know "the rest of the story." Louie has two daughters, Mary and Kathy, and since the death of his wife a year or so past, in his loss, they supported him.
Their loss of both parents in 18 months or so will be difficult.
I thought you ought to know.
I really feel the loss; he was my friend.
Jim Algiers
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From: Charles Reid
Date: August 20, 2014, 1:32:59 PM CDT
To: James Algiers
Subject: Re: Louie
Reply-To: Charles
Dear Jim,
Your report of Louis' passing is sad news indeed, yet not entirely unexpected. From what you say, I believe you were of great help to him in these last years with regular e-mails and calls. He did love to reminisce and, with the perspective of time bring both insight and humor to the people and happenings of our youth.
You may be unaware that Louis and I were roommates at Madison for the first 3-plus years of our UW tenure. I slept in the upper bunk, where I could avoid the light of his study lamp and the conversations (at times) he had with others in the house following drinking sessions at some bar. (3.2 beer was to be had, as I recall.) But how I enjoyed his quick humor in conversation and his never-failing barbs directed at various professors and lecturers!
At first (1944-45), we ate a meal daily at Mrs. Atkins' rooming house a few blocks away, a facility to which Troller, who lived there, had directed us. I gave up on that in a matter of months (too starchy, too cost-ineffective) and went to the student union cafeteria for a better deal, but Louis continued, maybe even into a second year.
After Louis got through the three years of pre-law, he lived elsewhere, in that same house, I think, because for some time thereafter, my roommate was an older medical student who spent the whole night studying but did not bring in any drinking buddies to wake me up and play tricks on me. As time went on, Louis spent more and more time at those beer places and restaurants in the evening and sampled all available exotic cigarettes, apparently sleeping less and less.
A few years later, after we had both left Madison, he came down with TB. Well, I can't report on much after that, though we never lost touch, and over many years after I left Wisconsin, we would exchange letters from time to time.
I visited him and Patty in St. Paul when I was in Iowa in the '70s, but our contact was mostly by mail. He would report on every person we had jointly known at the UW and seemed to have knowledge of most of their doings over all those years.
Well, our friend has departed for another sphere. You will surely miss him, and so will I, even if my contact had shrunk to a greeting at holiday time and perhaps an occasional e-mail.
Life goes on, but it will not be the same for those who remember him.
Again, thanks for staying in touch.
Sometimes, the news we convey is not so pleasant, but it's part of this interval between birth and death which, if Santayana was correct, should surely be "enjoyed."
Until next time, always the best,
Chas.
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On Wednesday, August 20, 2014, James Algiers wrote:
Mary,
If the email is still functioning, you might be interested in this letter from Charles Reid.
Dr. Jim
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On Aug 24, 2014, at 10:31 PM,
Louis Frey wrote:
Dr. Jim,
I still am checking Dad's gmail.
I most likely will for a while.
I passed on your kind words and Charlie's to Kathy as well.
We loved hearing these kinds of stories, and we thank both of you for sharing; it means a lot to us.
Is there any way that there were recordings of your program 'Letters to Louie.'?
I would love to hear it.
Thank you once again and take care.
Mary
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Mary,
Could you send your email address? I will try to get some recordings of the "Letters to Louie" and send them on. No action for the past three months, but the fall will bring some new messages to our audience, if it exists.
Best to you and Kate.
Jim A.
