Editor’s note: We asked readers to submit letters about memorable acts of kindness they’ve witnessed or facilitated, in response to Jean Kwas’ suggestion in her July 13 letter. Here is a selection of your submissions. We will publish more on Monday.
Many years ago, when Bob Greene was a Chicago Tribune columnist, he wrote the book “Hang Time” about the great Michael Jordan. It is a wonderful book that really describes the kind of man Jordan was on and off the court. At that time, my wife was doing business with Jordan’s then-wife, Juanita.
Also during that time, my later father was having heart bypass surgery at Evanston Hospital. Needless to say, our family spent many days at Evanston.
On one long day in the waiting room, I noticed a young mother, Penny, sitting alone. I found out she was from North Carolina, and, if I recall correctly, she had separated from her husband and had become a single mom to two boys. One son, Chris, was having major heart surgery, and the two of them had to come to Chicago for his serious operation and, hopefully, his recovery.
I asked Penny if Chris had ever heard of Jordan. The reply was a quick “Yes!” and she said Jordan was Chris’ favorite player ever. My wheels started spinning.
My wife and I reached out to Juanita and shared Chris and Penny’s story.
A short time later, we saw Penny at the hospital, who was very shaken and crying. I thought something bad had happened with Chris’ recovery (which went well, by the way). She said she received a call, probably from Jump 23, Jordan’s foundation back then, and was told, “When Chris fully recovers and when the time is right, we’d like to send you and your two boys on an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World.”
Also, a box of Jordan swag was sent to my home for Chris.
I never did find out officially who the “we” was.
I reached out to Greene, via a letter to his office at the Tribune, asking if he thought Juanita and Michael had something to do with this amazing act of kindness. I received back a response from Greene saying that,
“If you had thought the Jordans were behind this, you are probably correct.”
It was sort of cryptic but probably intentional on Greene’s part. I knew for certain, in my heart, that it had to be correct. The Jordans.
This was, and still is, my most memorable act of kindness.
— Jerry Shapiro, Northbrook
Joining hearts across the aisle
I am Roman Catholic, but often I wear a neck chain on which hangs a beautiful silver Star of David with a cross in the center of the star. I usually wear this piece of jewelry proudly and fearlessly on the bus and in stores, but the war in the Middle East and the rise of antisemitism have given me pause.
After weeks of leaving my Star of David behind, I recently wore it proudly and confidently to go by bus to a post office. After I took my seat on the bus, my gaze immediately landed upon two young men who were obviously Orthodox Jews sitting across from me. Despite their delicate age, they both had beards and were dressed in their traditional black hats, black suits and white shirts. Immediately, they noticed my Star of David and smiled.
They seemed quite shy, so I spoke first. “Did you notice that a cross is in the center of this Star of David?”
With broad smiles, they nodded yes, and with that, the sweet young men and I joined hands and hearts not only across the aisle, but also across all the oceans and deserts in the entire world.
Thank you to Tribune editor Colleen Kujawa for her July 5 op-ed on kindness begetting kindness, even among strangers (“Small acts of grace summon the good in Chicagoans”). Her wonderful piece moved me to write this letter.
— Kathleen Melia, Niles
Kindness of strangers is real
Last year, when my husband was seriously ill, I offered theater tickets on a neighborhood Facebook group. The woman who bought my “Three Penny Opera” tickets signed me up for Lasagna Love, which connects neighbors with deliveries of homemade food. In short order, someone I had never met showed up at my door with a large lasagna, enough for the two of us to eat for several days.
A neighborhood Facebook group I’m in was talking about wine from Italy when I mentioned I was unable to get wine from a very distant relative’s vineyard. Someone in the group asked for details, and several weeks later, I got a message: He had a friend visiting from Italy who brought two bottles for me. He delivered the wine to me and refused any payment.
Walking on Broadway between Glenview and Granville, I found a wallet in front of Walgreen’s. While there was no money in it, there was identification, a medical insurance card and other important cards. I looked around for someone who looked like the picture but found no one. When I got home, I called the medical clinic on the card and gave the receptionist the name. She was able to track down the patient and called her to give her my contact information. Within the hour, the woman came to my condo building to pick up her wallet.
Karma is real!
— Carol Rizzardi, Chicago
A friend’s selfless gift of life
When my wife and I moved to Florida in 2015, it was a new experience. New house, new neighbors, completely new environment. One of the ways of meeting people and making friends was visiting the local dog park in Destin. That is where we met Mitzi Richardson and her husband, James. We also met Allen and several more people. We heard that Allen was very sick and in need of a kidney transplant. The list was long, and time was of the essence.
I have witnessed scores of acts of kindness and heroics in my life as a Marine and a Chicago cop, but it’s impossible to forget what Mitzi did. She voluntarily donated one of her kidneys so Allen could live. Imagine giving the gift of life to a friend.
It’s been four years, and both Allen and Mitzi are robust and enjoying life.
— Bob Angone, Austin, Texas
An exchange of food, goodwill
It was Sept 11, 2011. My husband, daughter and I sat down at our favorite sushi bar in Lincoln Park. A Middle Eastern man was seated next to my husband, enjoying his sushi, and when the man was handed a plate by the chef, my husband mentioned how good it looked. The man offered him a bite to try, but my husband politely refused. He insisted, so my husband took a piece with a fork. My husband then offered him some of our saki to share, which he kindly took.
Thank yous were said, and a bit of small talk ensued. The man finished his meal and said his goodbyes. We ordered more food, and when we asked for the check, we found that the man had prepaid our meal. We were shocked, to say the least.
The chef said he is a regular who drives up from Indiana once a week to have sushi. It then occurred to us the significance of the date and how this gentleman received an act of kindness from us (polite conversation and sharing food) and in turn provided an act to us.
This incident has stuck with me all these years.
— Kim Baer, Libertyville
Just a dime made a difference
At a Loop “L” stop, I hesitated in line when I realized I was a dime short of getting on the Red Line to make my way home to the South Side.
I was 19, having just finished a summer class at the American Academy of Art. As I stood there, possibly struggling to find any change to help me get home, a kind woman asked me what I needed.
“Here,” she said, handing me a dime.
— Arlene F. Gottardo, Chicago