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.
You couldnt be more wrong.
Perhaps some folks are just swapping one addiction for another.
I couldn't be more right after beating alcohol. That's right I said beat. There is a cure and it's not at AA.
By now you have probably read my subsequent post explaining that I know AA does not promote itself, it is the group of professionals that have no other answers who promote AA.
I can agree with that but I also believe that if you are an alcoholic and successfully quit, then you are working a "program" of your own design.
Whatever works.
I meant no offence. Im glad you able to walk away on your own. I can tell you, though, out of all the people I have encountered, you are the exception. Keep it up!
I meant no offence. Im glad you able to walk away on your own. I can tell you, though, out of all the people I have encountered, you are the exception. Keep it up!
Thank you and the same to you. Like Graybeard said, whatever works.
Merry Christmas, all.
Enjoying the recovery posts. Sober 8 years. Just spend the Thanksgiving week-end with a boyhood friend who is newly sober. He was suicidal less than six months ago. He is now 4 months sober and he returned from the mid-west to home (East Coast) to make ammnends. Truly a miracle.
And for what it's worth, Bill publicly broke his anonymity at his death, I have an original NYT with his death announced. Which further goes to it being to protect the alcoholic from his own ego. It was never a "secret" who Bill was, his full name was on many corporate documents that anyone could get from the NY state corporation commission, etc. And Bill never made his name a secret, he also referred to many others by their last names, particularly Hank Parkhurst, Fitz Mayo, and Jim Burwell and he referred to Dr. Bob as "Smitty."
In addition to protecting the AA from his own ego, it also safeguarded AA candidates by putting their faith in a public figure. If the public figure failed (picked-up), it reflected poorly on AA.
There is also a negative stigma on drunks. The town Doctor doesn't necessarily want it known he is in recovery. Bill W. stresed the importance of anonymity not just for the individual but for the group.
Anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films. Principles over personalities. 70 plus years and counting. Incorrect? I don't think so.
No you are the one who is incorrect for it protects the person recovering from getting a dose of pride and ego and also protects the organization as well.
(No you are the one who is incorrect for it protects the person recovering from getting a dose of pride and ego and also protects the organization as well.)
Well put.
Fine, fine. Sheesh. I remember now why meetings over the web are a waste of time.
Many people quit on their own, because they are sick and tired of their life with alcohol involved. Others need more help, and AA is a great resource. Here's a thread about how I quit with a lot of interesting comments on this subject:
| If You Suspect You Might Have A Drinking Problem (An Open Letter) |
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| Posted by RobFromGa On News/Activism 12/11/2004 8:37:20 AM EST · 503 replies · 9,797+ views |
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It saved mine
April 6 2001
to protect the alcoholic's ego.
We have egos? nooooo
Aaaah, but now you're not anonymous!
GET HIM!!!
Dan
(c8
PS -- Glad to hear it.
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