Wilson House East Dorset, Vermont
Posted on 11/29/2005 1:07:41 AM PST by lunarbicep
EAST DORSET — The man who was the driving force behind the restoration of the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. died Monday morning after a battle with cancer.
Albert "Ozzie" Lepper Jr., 72, began renovating the Wilson House in October 1987, when he moved to East Dorset from Connecticut.
Lepper was a longtime "Friend of Bill W.," or member of AA, according to his funeral notice.
AA is a 12-step program founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, by Bill W. and his colleague, Dr. Bob, a native of St. Johnsbury, to assist people struggling to recover from addiction to alcohol. The success of its program has been copied by virtually all other programs that battle addictions, from overeating to gambling.
AA has an international membership that numbers more than 2 million, according to its Web site. Sobriety is sought through sharing experiences at meetings, where the identity of those present is protected to allow them the freedom to speak, according to AA's Web site.
The Wilson House, originally built in 1852 as a hotel, had been closed since the early 1970s, until Lepper and his wife Bonnie reopened it in 1989.
Although AA meetings are regularly held there, the House remains an inn that caters to all manner of tourists, said Katharina S. Lepper-Businger, one of Lepper's daughters.
"He never saw himself as a manager," she said. "He just tried to make sure the house honored the memory of Bill W. and his wife, Lois."
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
The Wilson House Restoration is a nonprofit foundation and Lepper was a member of its board of directors, she said.
Lepper was a warm, open and friendly man, said an AA member from Manchester who requested anonymity.
"One of the things he did very well was to involve local people in a positive and friendly way in the restoration," he said.
Since its reopening in 1989, the Wilson House has offered space not only for AA meetings, but other spinoff groups such as Al-Anon, which focuses on the impact alcohol has on spouses and friends of alcoholics.
The property was a focal point for the East Dorset neighborhood as well.
"The Wilson house is a vibrant part of the community and Ozzie and his wife have done wonders for it; they've been really dynamic," said Tim Burke, a neighbor and Dorset selectman. "It's a big loss to the community of East Dorset."
Lepper was born in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1933 and graduated from Nichols College in Massachusetts. His wife, Bonnie Lepper, seven children and nine grandchildren survive him.
Visiting hours will be held at the Brewster Funeral Home in Manchester on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will follow on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the First Congregational Church of East Dorset.
RIP. His organization and 12 step program has done a lot to save lives and families over the years. I'm 27 and know many peole who would noe be here on this earth today if it weren't for AA.
I suppose it's OK to break the anonymity after a person has died but it's a little risky since many still die drunk. The principle of anonymity is not to protect the alcoholic but to protect AA.
ping
That gives me a chuckle.
No doubt, AA has saved a lot of lives and families.
Dan
Graybeard58 is one of them.
One day at a time since July 7,1981.
I've been to meetings there. Its a great place. Bill W. and Lois are buried near by. If you are ever in the area, it is a great place to stop by.
June 1, 1999.
I often used to go to meetings where I was not known. Usually starting at 8PM. After the meetings, whenever I'd be asked the common question "How long do you have?" my answer would be, "Twenty one hours and change."
Not to malign those who have found strength in AA because each person needs to find what works for them. It does bother me that AA is shopped around as the only cure. Many of us just plain quit after living through the train wreck of a life that could be achieved by using alchohol.
We have a dilemma at our church. AA meets there several nights and many of them smoke. They tend to congregate in the doorways and smoke since they can't smoke in the building. People complain about running the smoke gauntlet but we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
You can always tell there is an AA meeting because of the smell of coffee in the building. Coffee and cigarettes. They can sure chuck down some caffeine.
I don't believe there is a cure and AA is treatment.
And, many just walked away from it after seeing the wrecks.
Bless the friend(s) who help keep these lamps lit.
Ping
(It does bother me that AA is shopped around as the only cure.)
Anyone in the program of AA will tell you this is not the case. In fact its not "shopped" at all. The fellowship operates on the principal of attraction rather than promotion.
One huge problem of the alcholics is that they fool themselves into thinking that they can quit or cut back or that there is no problem at all. AA believes they know a treatment that can work. They are not sure of any other methods but they have seen a great deal of things that don't work.
AA makes no money of its members. It just exists to try and help. I am sure if somebody finds a way that works faster and easier and longer and surer, AA will adopt it.
And look at all the 30 day dry out places that charge so much and do so little. They use all the doctors and all the medicine. And I have never seen one work.
I know what my moment of silence will be used for in today's meeting.
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