I was shocked to see the Herald's headline about Tim St. Clair's death.

The only time I met Tim was when I was working at the polls one election day. I commented that I had known some St. Clair's but Tim said they weren't related. After he left I realized he hadn't signed the registry to validate his vote.

Some time later a young lady came in and she said, I see Tim has already voted. I explained that he hadn't signed so she said she lived next door to him and she would tell him. She did and he came back to sign, to my relief and I presume to his so his vote would count.

I wondered what kind of work he did that he was home at that time of day.

Then later I discovered his byline in the Herald and I felt as if I really knew him. Lately I had noticed other bylines in the paper and I wondered what would happen if Tim left for the Times or P.I. or some other media. I never dreamed his leave-taking would be so dramatically sad.

Ironically I had thought of contacting him to see if he could arrange for someone to arrange for a photo or mention of my 1918 Club's 90th birthday celebration. I feel I have lost a friend.

Eda Anthony

Ridgewood