Still miss you Bob! And so appreciate the wonderful life we shared in Ashland Vineyards. Love, Maggie and Al

This is a story I am paraphrasing from an article in the Bridgeport Post. When Bob was about 3 years old his father, EJ, was almost killed in a plane crash in Stratford, CT. I think this is why he had to create his aluminum teeth. My mother recounted the tale of the teeth but not the cause. He was learning how to fly and in the twilight misjudged the field. This was in the time of barnstorming and my mother said she went up in planes with the Conklins in the 1920's. At the moment of impact with the ground an auto turned onto South Main Street and EJ realized that if he did not zoom up he and Lieutenant Jenning, the training instructor, would hit the car broadside. So he gave the plane the gun and missed the auto; saving the lives of three passengers. But hit the electric wires The plane crashed again Fortunately both men were saved by spectators but their conditions were "dangerous" in St Vincent's hospital.

Still miss you, Bob! Thought you'd like to know that 18 Ashland Vineyarders travelled the 8 hrs to SC to be present at our son Coleman's wedding. It was very powerful during the wedding when Adam Hammer asked them to all stand up. I share this remembering that one of the last conversations we had you asked me if we still liked each other in the community. You were astonished and delighted that I said we did. So although some of us have moved away, the answer to your question is still a resounding YES! What you and Phyllis started in Ashland has life long effects for all of us who were lucky enough to be part of your "experiment."

Bob Conklin was a major influence on my young life, and I will be forever grateful to him. There are too many stories and too many fond memories from the early 1970s to even begin a tribute. Once, many years later, when I met Howard Zinn, my first thought was how much he looked like Bob Conklin. Anyway, thank you Bob. God bless you, Phyllis and Celeste and the rest of the Conklin family.

Bob and Phyllis were warm hosts to my wife Cheryl and I during the summer of '67 while I worked full-time against the Vietnam War, under the mentorship of Phyllis and Marii Hasegawa. Their friendship meant a lot to us in that "summer of love." We were married the following year. (We are still fighting the never-ending misguided wars.) Also remember Bob on the Barksdale stage. One fabulous guy!

I miss hearing the sounds of Bob playing the piano from across the way. Bob gave me so many gifts, especially the opportunity to live in community, but the most important gift of all, his friendship and unconditional love.....and his LAUGH! If there were a contest for best laugh, he would win....or maybe he and Phyllis both would win. Miss them both so much.

OH how I remember the days and times I spent at the Conklin house. Surrounded by music, laughter, "forward" thinking, humor and so much love. So much. I wanted to be adopted by Phyllis and Bob. I loved you all; especially Celeste who gave to me some of the best parts of my childhood. May blessing be bestowed upon all of you. Bob lived such a good life. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.