Opinion - Op-Ed   

Tiller remembered

George R. Tiller, the Wichita physician who was shot dead in his church last week, was remembered at his funeral on Saturday as a man of courage who showed uncommon grace in the face of constant challenge to his medical practice, which included late-term abortions. “He is in a much better place now, a safe place, a place where he is free,” said Tiller’s son, Maury, who did not need to remind anyone at the service that his father rarely went in public with out a bullet-proof vest.

Tiller’s death leaves in doubt the future of Wichita’s only remaining abortion clinic. It also leaves even fewer options for women around the country who are seeking late-term abortions. But for the most part, Tiller’s funeral focussed less on his work than on his life with his family and friends.

Tiller was recalled as a man who loved Elvis, Johnny Cash and the University of Kansas, who had a weakness for James Bond and bad jokes, who gave 25 years of service to Alcoholics Anonymous, who was called “Tuna” by his fraternity brothers because he was such a good swimmer, and “buddy” by Jeanne Tiller, his wife of almost 45 years.

Hundreds of mourners streamed into the College Hill United Methodist Church, quickly filling the main sanctuary, which seats about 800. Hundreds more, including women who had once been Tiller’s patients, packed an overflow room, with dozens more crowded in the church hallways. (Joe Stumpe contributed reporting.) — © 2009 The New York Times News Service

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cause for concern
Beleaguered Brown
Obama’s world & Pakistan’s war on terror
Vaccination option for cervical cancer
“I don’t know how we’ve stayed alive”
Why television is so bad for children’s health
Tiller remembered
Quota for women
First woman Speaker
Cairo address
Universal acceptance is an elusive aim

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu