34 Index

458to provide their citizens with excellent living conditions as well as p their environment from overambitious extension of suburban spraw advanced thinking of Doxiadis’s planning efforts included extensive cc erization modeling, which at the time was almost unique. The NOUS ence was meaningful but, unfortunately, was cut off too soon becaus inability to convince a sufficient number of industrial, commercial, ar ical leaders that urban sprawl was a costly process that didn’t have t dured. Today, urban sprawl is a hot subject for all Americans and e from other nations, and in the northern Ohio region the NOUS st being dusted off and updated.

459 ‘I

460 i >

461
462 At my very first symposium, Delos Nine (the symposia were na the famous Greek island of Delos because in ancient Greece, the considered the seat of all wisdom), it was obvious that Bucky Ful pet of all of the prior attendees. Their greetings to him were of the served for those special friends that are always welcomed and Ioa meaner was that of one who loved being where he was and of on his fellow participants.
463 I was a newcomer and was surely out of place in the compar grand world figures, but Bucky soon turned his charm my way me into his circle of friends. A situation was to develop during cursions that were part of the charm of the symposia that high! marvelous sense of humor and lack of self-importance. All s participants, traveling companions, student observers, and s to a small village in the center of the island of Rhodes for a < formance of native dance. The entire village’s central squan over, with multiple picnic tables set up and a large bandstar tra. On the streets surrounding the square, the village’s cil their chairs to observe the festivities. By good fortune, my a the same table as Bucky and Anne. Also at that table were Si and his wife, Peggy, plus several other couples. Stanley Wir Detroit and was the head of a chain of women’s apparel si very active in interracial relations, and that was why he w; posium. Needless to say, Bucky was by far the most reno¹ table.
464 As the dinner progressed, I saw one of the village’s citt chair and make his way through the square and towar mented to Bucky that one of his great admirers was app seconds before the gentleman arrived at the table, th about Bucky’s being known everywhere, even in a rem< When the Greek gendeman did get to the table, he s Winkleman?” The switch was perfect. The table explo Bucky said, “See, Stanley is more famous than I!” The

465 tired to his lituc

466 that Bucky got ^t of the episode. It _reaU ,

467 of the truly world-famous people, R. Bui,. '

468 The World Center of Ekistics publishe

469
470 osmos” page is, we believe, most ap- s make up the concept of “Anthro- r and cosmos the world, but also the the universe. With their lives, Bucky icosmos, humanity at its most sacred,

471 and in on<ř itor, Par

477 (\7n\ xt ^a scholarly paper called Ekistics,

478 I ’ 302, September/October 1983) the ed-

479 ^0S’ a most fitting tribute to the memory of Bucky ide the last paragraph of that memorial statement be- - great life of a truly amazing man:

480
481 :ky Fuller, and it was a great mental 1 later to read, his uniquely great nd will continue to be exceptionally lal.
482 i existence and continues to serve as ons of world problems at almost an- . Bucky Fuller has been followed as s from around the world; the present svar, President Emeritus of the Uni- have all had nbe mad'

483 "anion character- e in which all

484 on

485 to provide their citizens with excellent living conditions as well as protect their environment from overambitious extension of suburban sprawl. The advanced thinking of Doxiadis’s planning efforts included extensive computerization modeling, which at the time was almost unique. The NOUS experience was meaningful but, unfortunately, was cut off too soon because of the inability to convince a sufficient number of industrial, commercial, and political leaders that urban sprawl was a costly process that didn’t have to be endured. Today, urban sprawl is a hot subject for all Americans and even some from other nations, and in the northern Ohio region the NOUS studies are being dusted off and updated.

486 At my very first symposium, Delos Nine (the symposia were named after the famous Greek island of Delos because in ancient Greece, the island was considered the seat of all wisdom), it was obvious that Bucky Fuller was the pet of all of the prior attendees. Their greetings to him were of the warmth reserved for those special friends that are always welcomed and loved. His demeanor was that of one who loved being where he was and of one who loved his fellow participants.

487 I was a newcomer and was surely out of place in the company of so many grand world figures, but Bucky soon turned his charm my way and enfolded me into his circle of friends. A situation was to develop during one of the excursions that were part of the charm of the symposia that highlighted Bucky’s marvelous sense of humor and lack of self-importance. All several hundred participants, traveling companions, student observers, and staff were bused to a small village in the center of the island of Rhodes for a dinner and a performance of native dance. The entire village’s central square had been taken over, with multiple picnic tables set up and a large bandstand for the orchestra. On the streets surrounding the square, the village’s citizens had set up their chairs to observe the festivities. By good fortune, my wife and I were at the same table as Bucky and Anne. Also at that table were Stanley Winkleman and his wife, Peggy, plus several other couples. Stanley Winkleman was from Detroit and was the head of a chain of women’s apparel stores; he had been very active in interracial relations, and that was why he was part of the symposium. Needless to say, Bucky was by far the most renowned person at the table.

488 As the dinner progressed, I saw one of the village’s citizens get up from his chair and make his way through the square and toward our table. I commented to Bucky that one of his great admirers was approaching. In the few seconds before the gentleman arrived at the table, there was some joking about Bucky’s being known everywhere, even in a remote village on Rhodes. When the Greek gentleman did get to the table, he said, “Are you Stanley Winkleman?” The switch was perfect. The table exploded with laughter, and Bucky said, “See, Stanley is more famous than I! ” The dumbfounded Stanley Winkleman finally said, How do you know me?” The answer was that the Greek had been a towel boy at Stanley’s club in Detroit for years and had retired to his little hometown in Greece. The essence of that story was the joy that Bucky got out of the episode. It really showed the very human side of one of the truly world-famous people, R. Buckminster Fuller.

489 The World Center of Ekistics publishes a scholarly paper called Ekistics, and in one of the issues (Vol. 50, No. 302, September/October 1983) the editor, Panayis Psomopoulos, paid a most fitting tribute to the memory of Bucky and Anne Fuller. I include the last paragraph of that memorial statement because it summarizes the great life of a truly amazing man:

490
491 This unusual addition to the “Anthropocosmos” page is, we believe, most appropriate. In Greek, anthropos and cosmos make up the concept of “Anthropocosmos.” Anthropos is the human being and cosmos the world, but also the ornament and the pride and the beauty of the universe. With their lives, Bucky and Anne embodied the ideal of Anthropocosmos, humanity at its most sacred, here to bring us light and beauty and thought.

492 It was a joy to be in the presence of Bucky Fuller, and it was a great mental exercise to be present and to hear, and later to read, his uniquely great thoughts. The world and mankind were and will continue to be exceptionally well served by this extraordinary individual.

493 The World Society for Ekistics is still in existence and continues to serve as one of the great contributors to discussions of world problems at almost annual conferences held all over the globe. Bucky Fuller has been followed as president by some of the greatest thinkers from around the world; the present holder of the chair is Dr. Wesley W. Posvar, President Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh. These individuals have all had one common characteristic—an abiding faith that the world can be made a better place in which all humans may have a better living standard.