JUNE 4, 2020 – Recently, my wife’s extended family lost one of its elder stateswomen—Carol Piper, married to my mother-in-law’s late brother, Bob Piper. Carol was a favorite of mine, of everyone in the ever-expanding family.
She died at 93 after a life well lived. Born in the U.P., she moved “south” to Chicago for school, where she met the inimitable Robert “Bob” Piper from Byron, IL. They had three sons—Chris, Brian, and Eric—each of whom does his parents proud.
Carol always gave you hope for humanity. She was smart, genuine, curious, well-educated, well-informed, and had a ready smile and sense of humor. Like Bob, she was actively engaged in community affairs. Her most important work was with the League of Women Voters. Even in old age, she was forward looking.
In the early Sixties, when Bob took a job with the AIA (American Institute of Architects), the family moved to D.C. A few years later they’d move back to Chicago, but during their time in Washington they saw firsthand many signature events of the times.
On August 28, 1963, Carol was at the heart of the March on Washington led by Martin Luther King, Jr. A few days later, she wrote about it in a letter to a friend, a copy of which Brian Piper sent to me last week.
We were among those who jumped the gun on the timing, so we got to the Lincoln Mem. at about 11:45 and so we were in the crush near the front under the trees. I couldn’t really see the people on the speakers’ platform, but . . . we could hear everything. The music was very moving. Twice someone started the Battle Hymn of the Republic but it wasn’t pursued; I think it was probably ruled out ahead of time as being too rousing. “We Shall Overcome” and “Freedom” (not sure of the title), which is almost a chant, were most effective . . . [E]veryone was very polite and as considerate as possible under the circumstances. That evening I watched the telecasts of the afternoon program and could appreciate how the crowd felt during the speeches—Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, and Mahalia Jackson seemed to have the biggest impact; altho the whole day was so impressive—each individual just added to the whole experience.
Among family Republicans, Bob and Carol were standout liberals. I think their time in Washington had something to do with it. As Carol urged her friend in the letter, “Also read the article by John Lindsey [in the latest issue of Harper’s]. He is the sort of Republican we can go along with—he is for the U.N., foreign aid, etc. and he is young and very good looking—I have seen him at several committee hearings at Congress—he is all for holding civil rights hearings in Mississippi, among other enlightened things.”
May those of us who knew, loved, and admired Carol remember her best by carrying forward the hope and concern she held for humanity.
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© 2020 by Eric Nilsson
