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Farewell, Godspeed: The Greatest Eulogies of Our Time

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I am not inclined to agree with the sub-title of "Farewell, Godspeed" that these are indeed "The Greatest Eulogies of Our Time," simply because I think there are so many eloquent farewells given to loved ones who have passed away that never see the light of day. But that hardly detracts from the point of Cyrus M. Copeland's collection, which serves as a potent reminder of a neglected art form by providing sixty four examples from the past century.

Of the sixty four the one that will be recognized and remembered by most readers in President Ronald Reagan's eulogy for the "Challenger" astronauts, a most atypical eulogy in that it was probably the one written the quickest, delivered the same day that the shuttle exploded before the television cameras of the nation. Older readers might recall Chief Justice Earl Warren's remarks following the death of President John F. Kennedy, but clearly you will be reading almost all of these sixty four eulogies for the first time.

These eulogies are collected into sections representing the vocation of the dearly departed. Copeland has sections on Maestros like Isadora Duncan and Andy Warhol, Visionaries from Susan B. Anthony to Ryan White, Wisecrackers from Lucille Ball to Charles Schulz, Captains of Industry such as Henry Ford, Matinee Idols from Humphrey Bogart to River Phoenix, Explorers & High Flyers in the mode of Amelia Earhart and Timothy Leary, Tunesmiths & Troubadours from Irving Berlin to George Harrison, Movie Moguls like David O. Selznick, Wordsmiths from Emily Dickinson to Dr. Seuss, and a final section devoted to the eulogies for the three principal figures of America's Camelot. Clearly, our time extends beyond this century when we go back to Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, which is another reason to take the sub-title with a grain of salt. But it is not like a century or two ago people talked about death in ways that we cannot understand today.

After each eulogy Copeland provides a brief time line for the historic figure who was the subject of the eulogy. For some of these figures it may be helpful to read these biographic outlines before the speeches, especially if you have no idea as to the identity of a Quentin Crisp, David Ogilvy, or Irving "Swifty" Lazar.

Some of the speakers who gave (or wrote) these eulogies will be familiar to the reader as well. Madonna writing about Gianni Versace, Bob Hope speaking about Jack Benny, Garrison Keillor eulogizing Chet Atkins, and Orson Welles on Darryl F. Zanuck, for example. One figure who is eulogized, John F. Kennedy, delivers a eulogy of his own for the poet Robert Frost.

To my surprise my favorite eulogies were the ones that managed to bring humor to the situation. Just the idea of Monty Python's Eric Idle giving the eulogy for George Harrison of the Beatles has to bring a smile to your face. That does not mean that you cannot be smiling through the tears, as is the case when fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite shares memories of the man she called Sparky and that the world knew as the creator of "Peanuts," Charles M. Schulz. There is also something to be said for eulogies given by family members, even when the subject is famous and the sibling is not.

Certainly there are examples that come to my mind that I could argue should be included, from Margaret Thatcher's words on the passing of Ronald Reagan, to Bill Clinton's eulogy for Richard Nixon, and the two speeches Robert F. Kennedy gave following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Copeland includes two eulogies by the man who fate has called upon to delivery more than his fair share of such speeches, Ted Kennedy, but not the one he gave for his brother Bobby, which remains his most memorable. The way that speech contrasts with the eulogies given for his nephew, John Kennedy, Jr., and his sister-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, would be insightful.

However, in the final analysis Copeland's collection is inspirational, specifically in the sense of showing how various speakers have responded to this particular rhetorical situation. In that regard the most public examples of such discourse, delivered in the wake of the death of the most prominent citizens, can readily be seen as being beyond the scope of most funeral orations.

"Farewell, Godspeed" is an excellent book to loan to a friend or family member who has to deliver a eulogy, for it will show the range and scope of what can be done (I say "loan" because that strikes me as being more appropriate than giving it as a gift under such circumstances). Certainly within these sixty four farewells there will be speeches, or specific passages, that resonant and can inspire the expression of similar thoughts. Even in grief, there can be moments of profound eloquence.

What a book. It is the compilation of about eighty eulogies of some of the most influential persons of their times, given by a myriad of people. There is neither rhyme nor reason, save the fact that they have touched people; some millions, some few.

We find words by John Kennedy, and of John Kennedy. Of Albert Einstein, David O. Selznick, Charles Schultz, Che, Martin, the Duke and the Challenger astronauts.

Anyone smart enough to be able to read will go through this book and come to its end with one thought: "What would I want to be said about me?" And after that thought, who knows what action may follow!

Damn.

This may not be the kind of book you would expect to find interesting, but once you pick it up, you'll find it difficult to put down. This is a compilation of 64 eulogies for the famous by the famous or articulate people who knew them best. Many are moving, all are interesting.

Divided into sections called Maestros (Bob Fosse, Andy Warhol), Visionaries (Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr, Ryan White), Wisecrackers (Gilda Radner, Lucille Ball), Captains of Industry (Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford), Matinee idols (Humphrey Bogart, James Dean), Explorers & High Flyers (Challenger astronauts, Albert Einstein), Tunesmiths & Troubadours (Janis Joplin, Lawrence Welk), Movie Moguls (Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder), Wordsmiths (Mark Twain, Walt Whitman) and Camelot (JFK, JFK Jr and Jackie Onassis), often the eulogist is as interesting as the deceased, and the fascination comes from learning about their relationship -- JFK on Robert Frost, Fidel Castro on Che Guevara, Ossie Davis on Malcolm X, Bob Hope on Jack Benny, Eric Idle on George Harrison, among others). These are words spoken in a time of tremendous grief, and the eloquence of the speakers is memorable.

Each selection is several pages long and followed by a short chronology of the deceased.

Also, don't miss the beautiful Robinson Jeffers piece that precedes the Table of Contents.

This book is fascinating and inspirational, and will compel you to contemplate your own legacy and relationships.

Highest recommendation.

Cyrus M. Copeland has done a brilliant job of gathering together a beautiful and moving set of tributes. I was brought to tears by the remembrances of a young and strong Gilda Radner by her longtime fried Alan Zweibel. I laughed as Cathy Guisewite tells tales of Snoopy's famous creater Charles Schulz (or Sparky as he was known to his friends). I sat back and pondered on Helen Keller's magnificent triumphs as Sen. Lister Hill so elegently reveals them. These and many others: Madonna on Gianni Versace, Gregory Hines on Sammy Davis, Jr, Susan Dickinson on her sister-in-law Emily, and "Uncle Teddy" on John-John, reveal this celebrated group of personalities in a fresh and heartfelt manner. I must confess, I have picked up this book on many occasions since my first reading to revisit some of the most poignant passages. I truly recommend this book!

For a eulogy to transcend just "celebrity puffery" it has to have universal application to our own lives. It has to make us think about how we want to be remembered. It has to inspire us to take a moment in our frenzied lives to reflect and then make a change in what we do every day. Otherwise it's not much more than tabloid hype.

The success of this collection of greatest eulogies is that it does exactly that. It's a mix of entertaining anecdotes that bring to life these famous people with inspirational details about their personal, often private side. Deep down inside I think we want our celebrities to be "good people" and know that they weren't tarnished by the glitter of fame. If you're looking for an uplifting book, I recommend this one.

The title promises "the greatest eulogies of our time", and the book delivers on its promise. Here are some of the eulogies included:

Adlai Stevenson on Eleanor Roosevelt
Bob Hope on Jack Benny
John F. Kennedy on Robert Frost
Fidel Castro on Che Guevara
Friedrich Engels on Karl Marx
John Huston on Humphrey Bogart
Christopher Isherwood on Virginia Woolf

In total, there are 64 eulogies, covering the following (somewhat arbitrarily defined) "categories":

Maestros
Visionaries
Wisecrackers
Captains of Industry
Matinee Idols
Explorers and High Fliers
Tunesmiths and troubadours
Movie Moguls
Wordsmiths
Camelot (eulogies for JFK, Jackie, and JFK Jr.)

The selection is excellent - each entry is an eloquent and inspiring celebration of the life being remembered. And, of course, the book's format makes it ideal for dipping into occasionally - one is unlikely to read through it in a sitting.

This book makes a great companion to "The Dead Beat : Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries", by Marilyn Johnson.

This is a book not to be missed!

A well-rounded collection of eulogies to famous artists, writers, scientists, politicians, movie stars, and revolutionaries, it not only gives you an intimate peek into the lives of these movers and shakers, but invites you to examine your own life as well. I found myself vaulting between laughter and tears, introspection and amazement. The author has done a great job of culling those remarkable figures from the past century and tracking down their eulogies. From Martin Luther King to Lucille Ball, Bette Davis to Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart to Dr. Seuss... And the contributors are equally impressive - spanning Madonna to Fidel Castro to Neil Simon.

'Farewell, Godspeed' is a book to treasure.

As a minister, I've written a few eulogies in the past, but now as my father is in the final stages of ALS, I wanted to be able to deliver a little something more than the typical farewell to the man who has been such an influence on my own life. So I picked up FAREWELL, GODSPEED: THE GREATEST EULOGIES OF OUR TIME, by Cyrus Copeland. While I did find some ideas worthy of my father's eulogy, and certainly found some interesting and at times, touching reading, I found most of these eulogies to be rather mundane and uninspiring. I would certainly not call them the greatest eulogies of our time.

This is a collection of eulogies of what we would classify as "famous" people, often delivered by equally "famous" people. The overwhelming majority were of Hollywood elites. Perhaps it is because of this and that most Hollywood elitists are far beyond the classification of "self-absorbed", I found many of the eulogies to ramble on and to be not at all what I was looking for.

I did find a few exceptions to the rule however, such as Ronald Reagan's eulogy (more of a tribute, actually) for the Challenger astronauts, or Shirley Welk's words about her father, Lawrence. These were truly fine works and fitting words for the occasions.

One thing that did save the book for me and thereby warrant the high rating, is the author's recap and brief synopsis on the life of the subject. On these pages, I did indeed learn some interesting morsels about so many of the subjects.

Overall, this was in interesting read, however I caution, if you are, like me, in the process of preparing a eulogy and looking for writing guidance, you won't find it here. You will however, find a few things you may want to emulate.

The idea of reading dozens of eulogies back to back may sound depressing, but it's really a celebration of love, hope, praise and -- surprisingly perhaps -- good humor as well.

Copeland's first collection of 64 eulogies is like a stroll among the brightest lights of the 20th Century, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Lucille Ball, Irving Berlin, Robert Frost and Dr. Seuss.

Most of the people delivering the eulogies are as fascinating as the departed -- folks like Bob Hope, Ossie Davis, Eric Idle, Madonna and Phil Donahue.

This book could serve as a two-month, day-by-day inspirational reader. Or, you could go through the book in a small group, reading the chapters in themed sections: visionaries, movie stars, explorers, musicians -- and so on.

Frankly, this is a perfect spiritual book for Baby Boomers as our generation ages -- and we need to summon our collective talent to celebrate the best with us all.

The author of this wonderful book has compiled an eclectic array of eulogies and tributes that eloquently speak to a small-c catholic range of modern day movers and shakers - from industrial barons to pop culture superstars. It's a thoughtful collection, one that is both easy to read and rich to digest. A wonderful book!