Throughout his life, Stan remained active in a left-wing, secular Jewish movement called Workmen's Circle. He asked that his body be buried in their cemetery in Akron. 

The maverick scientist died more famous worldwide than in Detroit; those few who really comprehended his work knew that few ever understood the enormous potential of his discoveries.

His son Harvey Ovshinsky, the distinguished filmmaker, told me that as his father slipped in and out of a coma in his last days, he would sometimes rouse himself and say that he was "still trying to figure it out." His son thought about that.

"Knowing Stan, he may have." In the end, he may have done more to help the common man than those old idealistic socialists ever did. He just needed a little more time.  For some men, and especially for our civilization, or whatever we call the way we live nowadays, 90 years really isn't enough.

Shame of the UAW:  For many years, the one incorruptible force in labor was the United Auto Workers Union, led by the immortal Walter Reuther. But ethical giants are sometimes followed by moral pygmies.

Today's union is led instead by one Bob King, who has disgraced himself by playing footsie with Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun and by refusing to oppose Proposal 6, which is designed to preserve the billionaire's monopoly and prevent construction of a bridge that would create thousands of good-paying union jobs. How could the UAW have sunk so low?

Speaking of education: If there is an educational institution in Michigan that delivers maximum value, it is Macomb Community College. It provides excellent vocational training in a broad range of fields, gets students ready for advanced universities, and puts on world-class seminars and brings in nationally famous speakers.

Macomb voters are being asked to approve a $56 million bond proposal, primarily for new technology and re-equipping college buildings. This is a huge bargain, which would cost someone who owns a $150,000 house less than $12 a year. All voters in Macomb and in their right mind should vote yes.

Jack Lessenberry opines weekly for Metro Times. Send comments to letters@metrotimes.com.

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