Pappas: Claire Duke

For all of her sway, Claire was delightful. Of course, people with opinions will rub others the wrong way, but at the end of every congenial conversation you had with Claire, you knew you had mutual respect.

I can’t say that about too many individuals I interact with in this chair. Most of them — usually know-it-all older men with chips on their shoulders — are mean-spirited. They start every conversation with how their opinion is going to save this cause or the other and, ultimately, the newspaper if we kowtow to their method. All they are really doing is making a ruckus to make themselves feel superior — done at the expense of ink and readers’ valuable time.

Claire, on the other hand, respected the local newspaper. She loved it as a resource. Whenever she showed up in the newsroom, or called or emailed me, I knew a well-thought-out point was going to be made that was either going to improve our coverage, or provide some context to the coverage in play. She loved Barre. She spent much of her time engaging in conversations toward progress, problem-solving and thinking outside the box. She desperately wanted Barre to succeed.

Claire was a force to be reckoned with. I had to face those reckonings a few times when she felt the paper had done harm or had gone too far. Other times, she even reached out wanting to know why we were not covering some issue that she saw as critical — not just for this moment, but several plays down the road.

She also wrote letters to the editor (sometimes critical of our coverage but always on point). She was prolific. Hers was a welcome voice on this editorial page.

While Claire and I discussed and debated coverage on a semiregular basis (sometimes on the sidewalk or in the produce section of the grocery store), we always left one another with a smile.

The kind of civility and support Claire brought is what we all need, not just as a community but as a society. We need people to be reasoned and thoughtful, but opinionated and respectful. Bullying and condescension won’t get you access. Lying and being manipulative will get you nowhere. Claire was about honest appraisals and real conversations.

I considered Claire a friend, not because we agreed (or disagreed) but, rather, because she treated every person as an individual. She listened, and — by all of my interactions (a few of which were hard or awkward) — she was fair. There was a richness of character that made me want to do better, too.

Our community is better today for Claire Duke. She epitomized local pride. She sought out civic engagement, but knew when to step aside and let others lead and learn. I found her to be wise that way.

Every election, we put a notice on the front page reminding folks to get out to the polls. That was Claire. She suggested that we regularly publish contact information for the local congressional and legislative delegations. Every Tuesday, like clockwork, we publish a directory of public service providers in our area. (I had done it once, and she immediately called me, thanked me, and then suggested we publish it weekly as a public service. We do.)

You didn’t have to agree with Claire. But I know that we all should carry ourselves, and dispense our opinions with the same reasonable care and kindness that Claire did.

The last time I saw her was on North Main Street in October. She had been laid up for a while, and was grateful to be out and about on a sunny Monday. She was looking for a good slice of pizza and wanted to support one of the local eateries. We made some small talk, and then Citizen Claire was off. There was nothing unusual — or even that memorable — about our interaction, and yet I recall it vividly and with great fondness. I will miss her.

Steven Pappas is the editor of The Times Argus.