Paul Newman, 10 Years Gone

The world is a little less without Newman. For ten years this feeling has lingered. I don’t know if Newman considered himself a humanist, but he contributed to my estimation of humanity. I met that tragic triad of criminals —Butch, Luke, Fast Eddie — in my formative years. I spent hours with them, learning the flux of decisions and fate. Later, the characters Sully and Galvin showed me the power of showing up, especially at times when not showing up is mighty tempting. But it wasn’t just the characters; it was the man within the roles. Newman himself: the philanthropist, the mensch.