Maurice Grossman really exemplified the cliché “a legend in his own time,” not to mention, “larger than life.” And for a variety of different communities in Tucson, he was not just ubiquitous but probably downright irreplaceable. And yet, the arts world, the GLBT world, liberal politics, the world of ideas and theater and culture in general will now have to get along without his megawatt smile and lovingkindness, his energy and ideas, his unfailing optimism and willingness to pitch in.
All those worlds came together tonight to say a public farewell to their friend, their teacher, their mentor, their inspiration, their indefatigable helper – well, it’s pointless to go on. He was all that and more, and now he’s gone, taken much too early (but isn’t anyone that beloved, really?) and given a spectacular send-off at the Tucson Museum of Art. I would estimate a crowd of about 750 people. It was outside in the amphitheater, and it was packed -- rows and rows of chairs, and then lots of people (me included) standing up in the back. Although a quite chilly evening for Tucson (well, at least we weren’t in D.C.), most of us hung in there as various important people in his life got up and spoke, told stories, anecdotes, shared memories, recounted his importance in their lives, etc. He got an official proclamation from the State legislature (both House and Senate), and at the end, after we were all about to turn into icicles, and after his son Steve praised his dad’s parenting skills (formidable!), his youngest daughter Lauren jettisoned her speech and brought on the bagpiper. That had the crowd wiping away tears.
Then we all adjourned to the lobby where a magnificent spread of delicious food was set out, complete with case after case of good wine, plus other assorted non-alcoholic beverages, a continuous loop dvd playing excerpts from his life (an interview on KUAT Channel 6 by Sooyeon Lee) and scattered here and there, decorating the buffet tables, many still photos illustrating different points of his life, as a kid, a young man, various places and stages and incarnations. Representatives from all those aforementioned worlds were there – and almost everyone echoed the same refrain – “Maurice would have loved this party!”
