Mailbag:

Thanks for your moving column on Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan (“How do you write about such a man?,” In the Pipeline, Jan. 14). What timing that I’d read this column about the pain of loss on today of all days.

As I ponder the 10th anniversary of my dad’s untimely death from heart failure, I’ll also pay tribute to the Rev in my heart. So many musically talented people have a way of dying too young. I can’t believe that it was 10 years ago today that I stood by the side of my dad’s gurney in the emergency room of a Torrance hospital. I can’t believe it was 10 years ago today that I called out, “I love you, Dad,” through tears as I watched helplessly while Dad struggled to take his last breath.

We held our service for Dad at the beach, the place where he felt happiest. Today, I’ll listen to Dad’s music then go down to the Rivanna river with a rose for him. And I’ll bring one for the Rev, too.

The Rev was more than just a rock star

I just wanted to thank you for your column about Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan (“How do you write about such a man?,” In the Pipeline, Jan. 14). I finally got to read something in print that really felt like someone had put their heart into focusing on his life. Jimmy was a great man. He made me laugh. He was a dork. He was good to people. He was talented. His death is still a stinging shock to me. I feel like this world got a little bit quieter the second he left it. Your article brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for giving Jimmy life again through your words.

I don’t know quite how to express it, except to say that you got your point across and then some. You are a class act.

Keep the senior center out of park

What in the world were the backers of the senior center thinking when they said people who voted against the proposed senior center in the park didn’t like seniors (“Don’t be against seniors,” Jan. 14)?

We all wanted a new senior center, but not in our park. The judge decided on the adversaries’ side. Now the backers are asking us to pay for attorneys to fight his decision.

Then they had the arrogance to ask us to vote against the judge in the next election.

Hey, folks — America is a democracy and a nation of laws.

Senior center not top priority for the city

I think Ralph Bauer, et al, poured it on pretty thick about the new senior center in the park (“Don’t be against seniors,” Jan. 14). Most of the seniors I know have more disposable income than the working folks trying to keep their jobs and make ends meet. The Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center is perfectly adequate and has public transportation access at least as good as the one hourly bus that passes the new site on Goldenwest Street. But more to the point, when there is not enough money to adequately fund schools and other public services, it would be an injustice to build a new Taj Mahal for seniors in Huntington Central Park.

Bridge a chance to honor Vandersloot

I was so pleased to hear about the reality of the pedestrian-friendly bridge into the mesa area at Bolsa Chica (“Bridge ‘flies’ into place,” Jan. 14).

I am suggesting that the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, of which Jan Vandersloot was a true citizen environmentalist and director, select Dr. Van (he liked that sobriquet from his patients) for the bridge’s name plaque. I have suggested this to the leadership of the Land Trust.

I am hopeful that your terrific local newspaper will support this suggestion. One question: Why did the contract to build the bridge go to Arizona?