Ned’s daughter

Jesse Vare-Hamlin, Ned’s daughter:
 
Ned Vare died in his home in Guilford, Connecticut, on July 22nd, 2009, one week after his 75th birthday. He was the Real McCoy.

Ned wrote this for his blog: http://school-is-hell.blogspot.com/
Age 73, Retired (actually underemployed). Lived in over twenty locations in US. Graduated from Yale, where I studied architecture.  Captain of the Yale golf and squash teams. Worked for several architects and freelance. Army National Guard 6 yrs. PGA golf tour player-six events, teaching pro. Ski Instructor, Taos, New Mexico and Aspen Colorado. Furniture designer/maker (tables in use to this day in the Conference room at the Aspen Institute).  City Councilman - Aspen. Antique dealer. Interior designer. Painter, Sculptor. Rancher/Farmer - Silt Colorado 9 yrs. Writer, three books.  Columnist, local newspaper, and now, writing next book -- an autobiography.  Born July 15th, 1934 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

In 1970, Ned Vare ran for Pitkin County (Colorado) Commissioner on the Freak Power ticket. In 1998, he was the Libertarian candidate for governor of Connecticut.
Vare designed, illustrated and wrote his first book, “Hip Pocket Golf Coach".
He wrote and illustrated “GOLF: The Money Swing" and the third, ”Smarting Us Up The Undumbing of America,” he co-wrote with his wife, Luz Shosie. He was working on a fourth book about schools and learning.  His work continues, through his wife Luz. 
What he did not mention in his blog: He was a father of three; to me, (his daughter, Jesse) my twin brother Tai Vare, and Cassidy Vare -our brother whose Mom is Luz Shosie who is his current wife of 34+ years. He has a wonderful sister named Glennie Kalen who lives in Narragansette, R.I. with her husband Norman and their dog Santo.

My Dad was a brilliant painter whose modesty was in the fore at all times...I think he could have learned to take a compliment better. From afar he taught us to "do the right thing" and "always do your best, even better than your best", "think ahead, pay attention to detail", "don't waste anything, or anyone's time", "find out what you like to do and do it", "if you are going to do it, do it right", "Be kind", "practice, practice practice", "if you are asked to do something, do more", "go beyond the call of duty", "you are perfect, just the way you are"...

When we were kids he played the Trombone and it made us giggle. He played 'Moonshadow' on the acoustic guitar and sang the words to us. He was gifted with a very dry and quiet sense of humor, much like his late Mother Glenna Collett Vare (who was known as the female Bobby Jones of Golf). He loved Chocolate ice cream more than words can say...he loved having his feet rubbed, he loved working the land, he respected the land, he was a Master Gardener...He believed in Library Cards, not Credit Cards. He absolutely loathed mediocrity, and sadly, he saw too much of it in this world. He Loved the Masters; Georgia O'keefe, Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, Paul Gauguin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, to name a few. He loved his wife, Luz...And her cooking! Luz gave him Reiki and took good care of this wonderful man. She is his Angel.

He gave good hugs, he was conscientious, thoughtful, kind, and gentle. Everything about him and his life was deliberate, by design, nothing was by default...he had beautiful brilliant green eyes, with a blue rim. He was one of a kind. He was my Dad. He died peacefully in his Anasazi inspired home (that he designed and built) where he felt most 'at home' on this Earth,  just a bit more than a few yards from the dining room. He was resting, probably the TV was turned on to the PGA tour when Tiger Woods was getting rained out... It may have been raining, but best of all, the plants he'd planted were flourishing in the garden where Luz continues to do his bidding, planting, growing, living, learning...

I miss him dearly, the sound of his voice, his beautiful handwriting, his hand-painted Christmas and Birthday Cards...