This morning's Nashua Telegraph brought news that Rep. Lee Slocum of Amherst was injured in an auto accident near his home. I've just learned that he died of his injuries in the hospital.

Lee was about as far removed from DFNH's political philosophies as could be possible, as many of you know first-hand. I won't mention the topics on which we differ, suffice it to say that the differences were many and they were deep.

But Lee was a good man, and for a period in the late 80's and early 90's (another life, my first marriage, when I lived in Amherst) Lee and his wife Jill became our very good friends. We met as members of the Souhegan Valley Chorus, and we would have frequent dinners at each others homes. Inevitably by dessert the conversation would turn political, and Jill and my wife would sit back and enjoy the show as we debated public kindergarten, tax policy or whatever topic had caught our attention.

Then my life took a major turn and we lost touch. After at least a decade without contact, our paths crossed again in 2004 when I was on a tour of the Statehouse, considering a run for the House. I ran into Lee in a hallway, and when he learned that I was thinking of running his face lit up. He talked to me for a good five minutes, and strongly encouraged me to run - even though we were diametrically opposed on the issues.

Despite his wrong-headed politics (he'd laugh and say the same of me), Lee posessed a brilliant scientific mind and was a wonderful father and husband.

I'm one Progressive who will miss him.

Rest in peace Lee!