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WILLIAM (BILL) H. POWELL
4/14/1934 - 4/16/2001
When Bill Powell took over the COPD family of mailing Lists from Paul
Marks he had the two things necessary for all great innovators. He had
a dream and he had a plan.
His dream was to make information available to all who suffer from COPD.
He wanted everyone educated about their disease, the treatments
available, the availability of such treatments, the medications
prescribed. He wanted everyone to be informed so they could advocate
for themselves.
The second part of his dream was to provide support. He recalled the
frightening experience of having your life changed in an instant: to
be dependant upon medications and supplemental oxygen and last, but far
from least for a self sufficient person, to be dependent on the kindness
and support of others. He realized that the only people who could
understand the despair that the initial diagnosis could generate were
those who had gone through it and come out the other side determined to
make viable life changes.
He searched, persuaded, cajoled, bullied and charmed others into working
with him to establish the Programs you now see. They all started in the
brain and the heart of this man. Lastly, realizing that we are all
finite beings, he incorporated the Copd-Support family of Programs,
designed our Logo, selected the first Board, wrote the ByLaws and
assured the continuity of the Programs.
Bill, you are truly a hard act to follow, but we are keeping your dream
alive and well.. Because you taught us by your example that we are not
our disease, but are capable of achieving some measure of greatness, we
will follow your vision and work at the task you have left us. May you
breathe easy and continue to watch over us.
Nancy Majava
April 2001
NANCY MAJAVA
? - 2/21/2003
After Bill Powell died, Nancy Majava stepped in and carried on the leadership of COPD-Support, Inc. Her story is best told by excerpts from various messages posted after her death.
Nancy Majava, our former president, died last Friday, 2/21/03. She had been confined to hospital care for 20 months and finally succumbed as various body functions deteriorated. She passed peacefully, she was heavily sedated near the end.
Her former husband, Al Majava, was her caregiver - visiting her daily in the hospital - and caring for the dogs she so dearly loved.
The best direct tribute anyone of us can offer for Nancy is: DO YOUR EXERCISES! It's what kept her alive for many years, and then alert for those 20 hospitalized months. Read her message on
exercise under "In My Humble Opinion" at https://copd-support.com
.
--- JohnW Minneapolis
I read this post with a heavy heart. But I know she is breathing free. My prayers are with her, Al and her beloved schnauzers at this time.
Nancy was special to me, as she was the first to befriend me on this list.
Carolyn in Maryland
aka Corky
It is with a tear in my eye that I am going to miss dear Nancy. We were friends before she went to the hospital and she was never forgotten by many of us. I will pray for Al, as I know that he was there for her all the time. Nancy is now breathing easy and is a new Guardian Angel watching over us. Nancy, we will all miss you.
John on Cape Cod
There are many people who have been major contributors over the years to the concept of providing support for those of us afflicted with COPD.
With much sadness tonight, I have to tell you that one of those special dedicated people has passed on, and is now amongst the angels - to continue to guide us.
Over the years, Nancy worked tirelessly beside Bill Powell and earned the deepest respect of many of us oldtimers when she undertook the difficult task of stepping into Bill Powell's shoes as President of the Support website, where she did a fantastic job till she herself took sick.
On a personal note, Nancy, thank you for starting me as a chat host so long ago - many in The COPD world have picked up the dedication that people like you and Bill exemplified.
You will be missed by so many - - Rest in peace now
Chip
You know that I don't post often; but I am always here for everyone. I spent last night wondering how to put in words what I am about to say. This is mostly for the newcomers to know....as I know that all of you that have been here for a while.....know how blessed we were to have a friend like Nancy. She was always a really good sounding board for me when I had problems......and she always could make me laugh. We actually would not have this Family of List programs without the valuable help of Nancy. When Bill Powell, decided the best thing to do to preserve the list in case of medical problems, he chose to Incorporate......(and also to give all donations the tax free status)........I was in a position as caregiver that I could not help much.......Nancy stepped up and stood beside Bill and helped him set it all up. She became Secretary/Treasurer.......which was a very demanding position........and she did a wonderful job of it..........
I know Nancy is happy now. As I know that she could not have been happy being in the hospital for so long.......Nancy loved to be active.....When I look to the stars and see that little twinkle.....I know that Nancy is smiling down on me.......and all of us....
Elaine Rester
Elaine who, by the way, has also contributed greatly to this program, has so adequately described our dear Nancy. I doubt she had an enemy in the world and was always so positive, not to mention the endless hours of work she did to keep this operation going. She is also the one who volunteered hours to put together our COPD cookbook, set up chat schedules, and who knows how many other projects before replacing Bill. We have been missing her and will continue to do so. Likewise, we respect and appreciate her replacements.
Shirley in SC
RAY PRICE
10/20/1933 - 3/17/2008
Some of you may remember Ray Price, one of our long time members. He joined us in the late 90's and quickly became involved as a volunteer and became our third President of COPD-Support, Inc in late 2001. Ray and a small group left COPD-Support, Inc to start their own COPD-International group. Ray continued to be a subscriber to our lists. I met him in Montana 2006 when I did a cross-country trip but we pretty much lost contact with him later on. Although we continued to send him list messages and personal messages we were not aware until March 2009 that he had passed away in March 2008.
Howard in MB
As COPDers, we have been blessed by having help, support and guidance
from some very remarkable people. Many of these have left a lasting
impression through their dedication to the COPD Community.
Ray Price exemplified this in his active years. Beginning with his
membership in COPD-Support.com in the late 1990's, he educated himself on
COPD, then stepped forward to help others. There at COPD-Support.com he
worked tirelessly for the COPD patient and family. Starting with email
list moderation, Ray served in many capacities, including Presidency of
COPD Support.
In 2002, believing there was an opportunity to provide even greater
support, Ray, along with 6 other active COPD Patients, founded
COPD-International. There he helped form many of the early programs and
policies that are still in effect today and served in many capacities
including Chairman of the Association.
In spite of more than 50 years of smoking which robbed him of his lung
capacity and eventually of much of his mobility, Ray continued to educate
people on not smoking and on COPD. After a major bout with pneumonia in
late 2004, he was only able to walk a few feet at a time.
Even then, when his health allowed, Ray used to use the visual impact of
his personal story and decline to educate young people on the risks of
smoking. In an interview with Candace Chase of the Daily Inter Lake
paper, he described his visits to his local Junior high school as
follows:
"I pull into the parking lot and the principal comes out with a
wheelchair and wheels me into the classroom," he said. "My
oxygen tank is with me so they see it all."
Once in the classroom, he told the students about the impact
smoking has had on his life. "I tell them if your parents smoke,
they're dumping that smoke down your lungs so you best get on
their back to quit smoking," Price said.
Ray spent a lot of time studying the latest research on tobacco including
the impact of secondhand smoke. A member of Tobacco Free Flathead, he
used his citizen power to lobby for tobacco control measures before the
legislature.
Those of us who knew Ray can verify - He never pulled any punches.
Even after COPD had taken it toll on Ray, preventing him for such
pleasures as golf, fishing and even walking any distance, Ray's drive to
help others continued. In addition to his work with COPD patients, on the
first and third Tuesdays of each month, he and his wife Helen could be
found managing the Martin City food bank.
During his last few years, Ray became increasingly active with his local
All Saints Episcopal Church, as a communicant, Eucharistic Visitor, a
member of the Altar Guild, and a member of the Vestry. One of his joys
was to participate in the church retreats at St. John's Abbey in
Minnesota. As an Eucharistic Minister, Ray would take Holy Communion to
shut-ins in the Whitefish area. As Father Bradley of the All Saint's
Episcopal Church said, "often in bad weather, the only person on the road
would be Ray", on his mission to reach those who could not get to church.
All this in spite of his own difficulty caused by his COPD. He went on to
describe Ray as a most kind, gentle, well read and articulate man who
quietly kept everyone on the straight and narrow on issues pertaining to
the handicapped and disabled.
Ray passed away of natural causes on March 17, 2008, at North Valley
Hospital in Whitefish, Montana.
Ray's philosophy was that we have so much to be thankful for, in spite of
our illness. He certainly left a lasting impact on all our lives, through
all that he left behind. Even greater though, is the impact he left far
beyond our COPD Community.
His work will live on in so many different ways - carried on by others
who have been touched by this remarkable man's determination to prevent
COPD from dominating him and by his kindness, cheer, dedication and
enthusiasm.
Chip Gatchell
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