Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
Another Passing, Linking us to the founders
Posted on 11/05/09, 11:28 am
We lost another piece of AA history linking us to the founders. Paul Martin, 87 years old and 62 years sober. His sponsor was Tom Powers who helped Bill Wilson edit and publish the 12x12. Below is an official obituary that was in a local paper and a personal note from Gary B. a long time sober friend of Pauls.
Rest in peace Paul, we will carry the torch!
--
Obituary:
Paul W. Martin, age 87, of Bethlehem Woods, LaGrange Park, formerly of Riverside for 42 years. A Veteran U.S. Navy Pilot during WW II, loving brother of Ted (Nancy) Pannkoke; fond uncle of Ted W. (Melissa) Pannkoke and Rick (Kathrin) Pannkoke; dear friend of Judy Giannelli and family of LaGrange for 27 years. Paul had many accomplishments in life as a successful Journalist. He wrote articles for numerous publications including the Chicago Sunday Tribune Magazine, Christian Century, The Grapevine, The Lion, a publication of the Lions Club. He wrote two books on the history of the Lions Clubs, the first We Serve and the second Lions Clubs in the 21st Century. He spoke Spanish fluently and traveled widely , including trips to Mexico and South America and Russia. A Health and Science writer, he hosted his own television show, was a professional wrestler and boxer, and was a true sportsman. He worked in Greenland, Iceland and Alaska in the 1950's, on the Dew Line radar warning system . In the Navy he catapulted, in observation planes, off of battle Ships. He had a great sense of humor and always had a joke. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m. at Hallowell James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, where services will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Riverside Twp. Lions Club, Hadley School for the Blind and St. Thomas Hospice appreciated.
I returned home yesterday from Paul's wake and memorial service. This was the third time I have been privileged to not only be with Paul but many of his sponsees and friends. The first two times I was asked to chair (more like emcee) the celebrations of his 50 years and 60th years of sobriety.
I met Paul 36 years ago when he spoke at the Wyatts meeting in Denver. He had been invited to speak there by a fellow known as Big Frank McKibbon. Frank was big and tough and a true Big Book Step Nazi who said that I should come hear Paul. I was surprised that Frank really looked up to anyone so I figured I better go. I left the meeting knowing that I had just met a man who really believed that the 12 Step program of AA was indeed "sufficient" for alcholics and anyone else who might be motivated to go to the lengths we need.
24 years ago I called Paul with my ass hanging out and jam on my face and asked him for help. I had not drank, but I was living a life of infidelity, dishonesty in all my affairs--my wife still says I was depressed during that time. Other than the depression that is a symptom of alcoholism I have no other experience with that.
Paul and his group, the LaGrange group, firmly believe and practice repeated trips through the 12 steps. Each time they do that they swap 5th Steps with several other people, and are extremely diligent in making all the amends to remain current. I learned that the repeated process thru the 12 Steps in order relieves alcoholics of the depression, anxiety, fear and all those other things the sober alcoholic contends with.
Paul always believed that guilt is the cause of depression. In fact, he was sure that Wilson would not have had his depressions if he would have kept his pecker in his pants.
I last spent several hours with Paul this last Spring when he was in Bloomington, IN undergoing a series of heavy radiation. His conversations were always about AA. He said he knew I don't really enjoy speaking on the circuit but asked me to continue to do it when I was asked so I could continue to share my experience with amends.
Paul spent the last 3+ months in a retirement center/nursing home. I am told that this past August there was a young man taking a tour of the home with his parents. The parents were thinking of moving there. The lady giving the tour always spoke to each resident as they passed by. She would say "Hi Joe" or "Hi Mary" etc., but when they passed Paul she said "Hi Paul Martin." The group passed by and then the young man returned and asked Paul if he was the guy who knew Bill Wilson. Paul said he was and asked what he could do for the young man. The kid said he was 3 years sober and was having trouble getting along with his parents. Paul said "Do you have your amends list in your pocket?"
Paul then showed the kid how to write an inventory, told him to come back when he had it completed (Paul gave him one week). The kid came back, took 5th Steps with Paul and a few of his friends. On September 10th the kid returned to see Paul and said he had made all the amends with his parents and things were getting better.
All the years I knew Paul, I never once heard him change his mind about anything regarding the AA program--the Twelve Steps. I asked Matt A., a 50 year sponsee of Paul's if he ever heard Paul change his mind about any part of the program. Matt said he never heard Paul change his mind about a damn thing.
Three weeks ago Bryan B took Paul up to Mayo Clinic for some tests. The doctor came into the room after two days of testing and before the doc could say anything Paul asked "How long do I have." The doctor looked down while looking for words when Paul said "I'm glad you didn't look at your watch."
I'm sure someone will be telling more about his life. He spoke Spanish fluently.. He interviewed many South American political figures, both winners and losers of revolutions. He was a wonderful god father and friend.
The wake and service were truly victory celebrations.
Gary
Posted on 11/05/09, 11:28 am
We lost another piece of AA history linking us to the founders. Paul Martin, 87 years old and 62 years sober. His sponsor was Tom Powers who helped Bill Wilson edit and publish the 12x12. Below is an official obituary that was in a local paper and a personal note from Gary B. a long time sober friend of Pauls.
Rest in peace Paul, we will carry the torch!
--
Obituary:
Paul W. Martin, age 87, of Bethlehem Woods, LaGrange Park, formerly of Riverside for 42 years. A Veteran U.S. Navy Pilot during WW II, loving brother of Ted (Nancy) Pannkoke; fond uncle of Ted W. (Melissa) Pannkoke and Rick (Kathrin) Pannkoke; dear friend of Judy Giannelli and family of LaGrange for 27 years. Paul had many accomplishments in life as a successful Journalist. He wrote articles for numerous publications including the Chicago Sunday Tribune Magazine, Christian Century, The Grapevine, The Lion, a publication of the Lions Club. He wrote two books on the history of the Lions Clubs, the first We Serve and the second Lions Clubs in the 21st Century. He spoke Spanish fluently and traveled widely , including trips to Mexico and South America and Russia. A Health and Science writer, he hosted his own television show, was a professional wrestler and boxer, and was a true sportsman. He worked in Greenland, Iceland and Alaska in the 1950's, on the Dew Line radar warning system . In the Navy he catapulted, in observation planes, off of battle Ships. He had a great sense of humor and always had a joke. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m. at Hallowell James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, where services will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Riverside Twp. Lions Club, Hadley School for the Blind and St. Thomas Hospice appreciated.
I returned home yesterday from Paul's wake and memorial service. This was the third time I have been privileged to not only be with Paul but many of his sponsees and friends. The first two times I was asked to chair (more like emcee) the celebrations of his 50 years and 60th years of sobriety.
I met Paul 36 years ago when he spoke at the Wyatts meeting in Denver. He had been invited to speak there by a fellow known as Big Frank McKibbon. Frank was big and tough and a true Big Book Step Nazi who said that I should come hear Paul. I was surprised that Frank really looked up to anyone so I figured I better go. I left the meeting knowing that I had just met a man who really believed that the 12 Step program of AA was indeed "sufficient" for alcholics and anyone else who might be motivated to go to the lengths we need.
24 years ago I called Paul with my ass hanging out and jam on my face and asked him for help. I had not drank, but I was living a life of infidelity, dishonesty in all my affairs--my wife still says I was depressed during that time. Other than the depression that is a symptom of alcoholism I have no other experience with that.
Paul and his group, the LaGrange group, firmly believe and practice repeated trips through the 12 steps. Each time they do that they swap 5th Steps with several other people, and are extremely diligent in making all the amends to remain current. I learned that the repeated process thru the 12 Steps in order relieves alcoholics of the depression, anxiety, fear and all those other things the sober alcoholic contends with.
Paul always believed that guilt is the cause of depression. In fact, he was sure that Wilson would not have had his depressions if he would have kept his pecker in his pants.
I last spent several hours with Paul this last Spring when he was in Bloomington, IN undergoing a series of heavy radiation. His conversations were always about AA. He said he knew I don't really enjoy speaking on the circuit but asked me to continue to do it when I was asked so I could continue to share my experience with amends.
Paul spent the last 3+ months in a retirement center/nursing home. I am told that this past August there was a young man taking a tour of the home with his parents. The parents were thinking of moving there. The lady giving the tour always spoke to each resident as they passed by. She would say "Hi Joe" or "Hi Mary" etc., but when they passed Paul she said "Hi Paul Martin." The group passed by and then the young man returned and asked Paul if he was the guy who knew Bill Wilson. Paul said he was and asked what he could do for the young man. The kid said he was 3 years sober and was having trouble getting along with his parents. Paul said "Do you have your amends list in your pocket?"
Paul then showed the kid how to write an inventory, told him to come back when he had it completed (Paul gave him one week). The kid came back, took 5th Steps with Paul and a few of his friends. On September 10th the kid returned to see Paul and said he had made all the amends with his parents and things were getting better.
All the years I knew Paul, I never once heard him change his mind about anything regarding the AA program--the Twelve Steps. I asked Matt A., a 50 year sponsee of Paul's if he ever heard Paul change his mind about any part of the program. Matt said he never heard Paul change his mind about a damn thing.
Three weeks ago Bryan B took Paul up to Mayo Clinic for some tests. The doctor came into the room after two days of testing and before the doc could say anything Paul asked "How long do I have." The doctor looked down while looking for words when Paul said "I'm glad you didn't look at your watch."
I'm sure someone will be telling more about his life. He spoke Spanish fluently.. He interviewed many South American political figures, both winners and losers of revolutions. He was a wonderful god father and friend.
The wake and service were truly victory celebrations.
Gary
I feel like such a baby in the shadows of such members, even tho they would counsel that "we all just have today." "If you got up earlier than 5am then you have more time than me,"
I still feel small, & wish I could be in their presence for a bit So many questions and I could listen to their stories all nite!!.
If it were not for those who've gone before us .... what the heck would our worlds look like today!!!???!!!
I guess I am just in awe every time I think about Bill standing in that hotel lobby thinking how do I find another drunk to work with / and the diseased mind listening to the warm chatter and laughter from the bar, and somehow he was able to choose and find another drunk to talk to, and so here we all are.
What are the odds of a bet like that one??? Honestly??
And then I think....... there has to be a Power greater than I........ who has a loving hand in the creation of all of this A.A. stuff...
How??? ... with the knowledge of how this disease works... and how it destroys..... and how it kills....... How could I not acknowledge the possibility..... let alone the probability....... that there is something huge......... that I cannot explain to you.... cannot prove to you ..... yet obviously to me ... A Power Much Greater than I..... Which can and does do for us what we cannot do for ourselves!!!???
Next time you are in that strange place of uncertainty or fear..... Just let go absolutely... just for a damn minute.... and look see ...... we can refund completely any misery if you want it all back... honestly... we just want to offer everyone who's afflicted a chance in hell to breathe a sober breath and possibly stand in awe together for a minute...
And I am not talkin religion.... I am so certainly speaking of spirituality
Sorry... sometimes it just all comes bubblin out ;-)
In Love, Light, Truth, & Service,
Stubborn T
Re: "Paul always believed that guilt is the cause of depression. In fact, he was sure that Wilson would not have had his depressions if he would have kept his pecker in his pants."
Now just a cotton pickin' (sniiff) minute here. aren't we supposed to treat all depression with medication, empathy, self-esteem boosting affirmations and support here on DS? Or to put that another way, if Bill Wilson were alive and posting here today, wouldn't we be saying,"You go, boy!!"?
In the process of my own recovery, the link between guilt and depression became increasingly obvious as I worked the 4th and 8th steps. It's impossible, I found, to look at myself in the mirror and the world in the eye when I'm still weighed down with the memory of something I've done that I'm ashamed of.
In my case that was all it took to be permanently free of both guilt and depression. Now maybe my case is exceptional and maybe many alcoholics continue to suffer from clinical depression after they've done the inventories and made the amends. I can only answer this perennial riddle for myself and from my own experience.
But I also think it's fair to say that none of us will ever have a clear and satisfactory answer to this dilemma until after we've taken full responsibility for our actions.