Posted on 01/05/2005 2:34:33 PM PST by rocksblues
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A local columnist and her businessman husband committed suicide on New Year's Day after sending out their obituary, letters to friends and a newspaper column supporting "death with dignity," authorities said.
The obituary stated that Ethan and Helen Levine, both suffering from serious illness, died together "through united self-deliverance," according to the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle of Cheyenne and the Casper Star-Tribune, which received copies. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050105/D87E4IQO1.html Wyo. Couple Write Notes, Commit Suicide The bodies were found Tuesday by Laramie County sheriff's deputies, who went to check on the couple after the obituary and letters were delivered. Laramie County Coroner Bill Ryan said Wednesday that the Levines appear to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Helen Levine, 73, had been a columnist for both newspapers and was formerly public information officer for the state health department. Her husband, Ethan Levine, 50, had been manager of Frontier Mall and served on the Tribune-Eagle editorial board.
The final column Helen Levine wrote for the Casper Star-Tribune reminded readers of her support for "death with dignity," the newspaper said. She also wrote that the couple had "experienced insults" related to their jobs, and she criticized President Bush for the war in Iraq and other things.
The newspaper quoted from the submission in a news story but does not plan to publish the column, which it said came in the mail Tuesday.
In their letter to friends, the Levines described their health problems - Ethan Levine had multiple sclerosis and diabetes and his wife had heart disease. Their letter called MS "a great age equalizer" that brought chronic fatigue and pain.
"We know what we feel and why we have made this choice," the letter said. "We also know that our decision may not be met with the same understanding by you. All we can ask is for you to respect our choice and understand this was something we both felt so strong about."
Jim Angell, director of the Wyoming Press Association, said the two "were both very, very smart debaters. If you ever got on the opposite side of a political issue, they'd talk until they wore you down."
Gov. Dale Freudenthal had appointed Helen Levine to the Wyoming Senior Services Board. In a statement, Freudenthal said, "I have known Ethan and Helen both for years and years and considered them friends for a long time."
If they were so very smart, then why did they say they felt so strong about it instead of the correct word: strongly? Answer? Because they weren't so smart, they just thought they were.
>I'm sure they'll be voting in the next election<
WBROLTFLMHO if it was'nt so true!
How about "God Bless them?" Being opposed to the war does not mean they should die. Have some compassion.
"They're blue in the face now."
ROFL !
At least they didn't die of anything serious.
Sick people? Is that what you would say had the suiciders been republicans? God Bless them and forgive them for ending their lives, despite political differences. God does not HATE people based on worldly political views. It is His platform, rather than the republican platform, that matters in the end, no?
To tell you the truth I'd like to see a few more blue faces, I can't believe I said that shame on me
I was missing a few RINOs - I'll have to fix that.
What a horrendous thing to say. May God forgive you!
Your feelings are too easily hurt. Get over it.
Eh they used their illnesses as copouts.
If Kerry was President elect right now, those two would still be taking up oxygen.
Should check out DUers sympathetic response to these miscreants
naw...it was the sighting of the "Mother-ship" that drove them over the edge...
Oh well...send the bodies to the rendering plant...
MD
As there was no mention of children I nominate these two for the Darwin's.
I think what was probably happening is that the folks on the other side realized they were hopeless and left.
re: #25
They are beyond being "blessed". They've decided to be eternally damned.
You know, no matter how bad I perceive the political climate around me, the LAST thing I would think about is offing myself. Politics isn't worth killing yourself over. I feel sad for these people, they got so caught up in voting that the rest of their life ment nothing else.
And they probably couldn't stand the fact that they lived in a Red State.
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