Penn fought an incredible battle and throughout it all he kept up his spirits as well, focusing on the people and things that had mattered to him throughout his life.

His great fear was the disease would rob him of his core personality, but instead he became concentrated down to his very essence: his caring for his fellow man -– especially his friends and colleagues -– and for the ideas that motivated his life.

I still couldn't keep up with him, even when he was quire ill. He was always up for seeing everyone. I apologize for rationing our time –but as Vicki Thomas and Linda Jessup can attest -– his calendar was filled with visits every day.

Both Penn and I owe a great debt of gratitude to Vicki and Linda, without whose care and help it would have been so much more difficult.

Penn left us all with words of wisdom and admonitions. His advice sprand from the manner in which he had lived his life and found its meaning. In his inimitable style he could find just the right poem to express himself. He told me I should always “Follow, follow the gleam” –- do the things I believed in and inspired me.

You have all been such a comfort and inspiration to me, the small band of people that Penn gathered around him who he believed could accomplish so much more than mere numbers suggest.

Penn's fondest hope was that we would continue to maintain our close ties and carry on working together to make this world a better place. And that would be the best tribute to Penn's memory.