Our relationship began shortly after I joined the staff of the National Endowment of the Humanities as its director of planning. I was the first social scientist hired and given the expressed role on helping NEH better document the needs of those disciplines, institutions, and public resources that comprise the humanities.

When I arrived there were clear projects awaiting me: the role of university presses and the rising costs of scholarly publishing; beyond academic employment and what were the rest of humanities’ PhD’s doing professionally? A sole National Council member, Leslie Koltai welcomed me and asked the question, “what was the role for the humanities in two year college education?

Two weeks later, Arthur Cohen knocked on my door offering to help NEH answer that question. We started with a small planning grant and his chaperoning me on a series of site visits to two-year colleges. It led to an analysis of NEH’s programs and the adaptation of fellowship programs and grants on curriculum, and public outreach programs and in the State of Washington’s 16 community colleges a comprehensive assessment of what they were doing and improvements that were needed.

Over that decade, Art and Florence guided and documented the efforts. They engaged the Washington education associations, the Hill, and the grandmother of all educational matters, the Department of Education and their State siblings.

Of course, Art and Flo became our good friends. Gerry and I mourned Flo’s death and its obvious impact on Art. On our last visit with Arthur, so much of the discussion was about our past efforts, but we met the wonderful Kingsbury family next door whose three children kept Art spry and enjoying what only youth can provide.

A belated note to express thanks to Art and Flo for enriching our lives and that of the Nation.