I was, as so many others, shocked and saddened to hear of Alice Lane’s death. And since I hadn’t been on the buses for a week or so, I wasn’t aware of her dying or the memorial at the park-and-ride.

I feel so badly that I wasn’t able to be at the memorial with other bus riders and drivers I have come to know in the 18 years I’ve lived in Port Townsend and ridden the buses.

Reading yesterday’s Leader article, I was moved by the stories of Alice’s compassion shown towards bus riders and others who suffered in one way or another, and of how much she meant to those who were lucky enough to know her. Since I didn’t get to attend the memorial, I’d like to share here a couple of memories I have.

During the past year (or more), every time I sat at the front of a bus Alice was driving, I asked her how the violin lessons she was taking were going. She always loved to talk about how much she enjoyed studying and learning to play more and more challenging pieces of music. I could feel the satisfaction and happiness this brought into her life.

After reading The Leader article, I looked for and found a Jefferson Transit schedule from Spring 2011 that I had saved because it features an exquisite pen-and-ink drawing by Alice of the Haines Street Park and Ride on the cover. I now keep the schedule book on my desk.

I miss Alice, but I know this memento and the fond memories of the friendship I had with her will always be with me.

ROBERT KOMISHANE

Port Townsend