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A TRIBUTE TO
Dr. Dan Bassuk, President
Association of Lincoln Presenters
How shall I remember Dr. Dan Bassuk? Death of a loved one always provides a
perspective on that life denied by years of association on this earth. The
Disciples were really not aware of who Jesus really was until after His
death. Even then the gospel writers saw Jesus differently. Matthew pictured
Him as King, Mark saw him as a servant, doctor Luke was interested in His
birth, while John said, “Here is the Son of God.”
We of the Association of Lincoln Presenters have lost our founder and
leader. We, too, saw him differently, but the ALP family now holds this in
common: Dan Bassuk touched our lives for good.
I was number nineteen to join the ALP which now tallies over one hundred and
sixty-five members. I will always remember that Dan wrote a personal letter
of welcome making me feel like a cherished member of the ALP. After that
time we often exchanged ideas and gifts. On two occasions he was an honored
guest in our home. Others now give testimony that Dan had a way of making
them feel like the most important member of the Organization.
How shall I remember him? He was a man with a vision for an organization of
Lincoln presenters and he made that vision a reality. He became king and
servant, teacher and student, leader and follower. He was a prince betrothed
to duty. He was a combination of compassion and conviction, courage and
patience. As our leader, for some he moved to fast, for some he moved too
slowly, but none could deny his devoted dedication to the ALP. None can deny
that he changed all our lives.
I close with a poem by Danson Smith, with which I have taken some poetic
liberties.
I want you to know you are ever remembered,
The kindliest feelings encircle your name;
Though life’s pressing claims may have silence engendered,
Your place in remembrance remaineth the same.
I want you to know you are ever remembered
By ALP family, and all of your own,
The words that you left us, spoken and written
Will remain to guide us until we meet at His throne.
The McClerrens
As the Webmaster for the Lincoln Presenters, I'm asking other presenters
for information about this man that we all admired. I didn't even know what
he looked like when I attended the first Convention in Lexington Kentucky.
He wasn't the tallest nor did he have the most hair of the Lincoln
Presenters. But it didn't take long for me to understand that he had an Iron
Clad vision for the ALP.
Ralph Borror, Webmaster
Dan Bassuk was the creator of the Association of Lincoln
Presenters in 1990 with no though of what it would prove to be today. We met
by way of telephone and mail in 1990 and developed a great friendship that
continued throughout his lifetime. Our first meeting in person was in
Lexington, Kentucky during the first convention of the ALP. Often we spoke
of the growth of the association, his comment just before we met in
Lexington was "the Lincolns are coming out of the woodwork", and so they
did. Each of us were suprised with the great number of "Lincolns" and
"Mary's" that attended the first convention. I am sure that so long as this
association exist the name of Dan Bassuk will be held in high regard and
will be referred to as the founder of the Association of Lincoln Presenters.
Those of us that have the pleasure of knowing Dan have have lost a dear
friend. In closing I must say that it was an honor for me to serve with him
as vice president for six years, I shall cherish those memories of our
president.
With much respect Jim Sayre
TRIBUTE TO “DAN THE MAN”
Although at times, he seemed somewhat modest,
But he was always ‘striving to be honest.’
In 1990, Dan Bassuk organized the ALP,
And he was totally dedicated to the ‘highest’ degree.
For him, emphasis was never put on looks,
But, on “the things I want to know are in books.”
Always serious in his knowledge of Lincoln,
A consultant for many, a lighthouse with its beacon.
Lincoln’s relationship with Grace Biddell, Dan knew well,
He wrote about the whiskers story, helping others to tell.
To hundreds of children he became a true mentor,
Teaching them that President Lincoln was an inventor.
As the President of ALP and starting with a very few,
With his dedicated leadership, membership really grew.
His unselfish sharing, helping new recruits on their way,
“Malice toward none” was the attitude he would display.
So, “Dan the Man” always exhibited “Esprit de Corps”
How he lived his life, no one could ask for more.
His Legacy will live on, and what he would want us to do,
Is to continue focus on “May I Rouse the Lincoln in You.”
Jim R. Rubin
My name is Fred Mossbrucker. I am a high
school teacher in Pitman, NJ. We are a very small town and school. Up
until 2005, Dan was a regular visitor to our high school as President
Lincoln. He would conduct a "Press Conference" for about six US I
classes for about five or six years. Dan always brought me a book or
gift of some kind. I keep some of them taped to my office wall.
It is with no small amount of sadness that I found out about his passing
via your web site. I knew Dan was fighting cancer. We had spoken
sometime back around Thanksgiving or Christmas. It took me awhile to
find him due to his move to PA.
Dan wasn't just a superb Lincoln Presenter. He was my friend. When he
would give me a book, he always signed it "To my Civil War Friend." He
made me feel like we were friends. It was in his gentle manner. He was
a natural Lincoln, even if he would humbly disagree. Pitman High School
shall miss him. I will miss him. I can only imagine a meeting in
Heaven between our real 16th President and Dan with Mr. Lincoln
addressing Dan thusly, "So here's the little man who did a HUGE
impression of me. Well done, Dr. Bassuk!" And I reiterate, well done
Dr. Bassuk!
Respectfully yours,
Fred Mossbrucker
Spec. Ed. Teacher, Pitman HS
Sec/ Treas., Camp #7, SUVCWNJ
1st Lt., Co. D, 12th NJ
Reprinted from the
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Dr. Daniel E. Bassuk, author, honored as Abraham
Lincoln presenter
Thursday, May 19, 2005
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- A memorial service for Dr. Daniel E. Bassuk,
66, of Wallingford, a former New Jersey resident, will be here at 1 p.m.
June 11 in the Meeting House of the Swarthmore Religious Society of Friends,
12 Whittier Place. Arrangements are by the Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral
Home, Media.
Dr. Bassuk, who died May 10 at home,
was the founder and president of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, a
national organization that promotes education about Abraham Lincoln through
presentations at schools and other venues.
Over the past 20 years, he published
nine articles and a monograph on Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln and the Quakers,
and, with his wife, Patricia A. Thomas, performed original two-person
historical dramas on Lincoln in elementary schools in New Jersey, New York
and Pennsylvania. The recipient of awards of merit in 1993, 2001 and 2002
from the Association of Lincoln Presenters, Dr. Bassuks work was also
featured in radio interviews and articles in newspapers and magazines,
including the Atlantic Monthly, People, American Heritage, Reenactors
Journal and Americana.
An original manuscript of Dr. Bassuks,
President of Black and White Americans: Ten Blacks Tell of Encountering
Lincoln, is being prepared for publication.
Early in his career, Dr. Bassuk
taught world religions at the University of South Florida. His research in
the field resulted in the publication of Incarnation in Hinduism and
Christianity: The Myth of the God-Man in 1987.
He earned a bachelors degree from
Columbia University, New York City, and a doctorate in literature and
religion from Drew University, Madison, N.J.
Dr. Bassuk was vice president of the
Friends of Hillsborough, a grassroots organization in Hillsborough, N.J.,
and also served on the Hillsborough Township Historic Commission.
Born in New York City, he lived in Florida,
Princeton, N.J., and Hillsborough before moving to Wallingford in 2004.
In addition to his wife, surviving are
sons, David and Andrew; a daughter, Anne; his mother, Rose Bassuk; a sister,
Felice Koren; brothers, Brian and Glenn, and three grandchildren.
President Dan Bassuk
said of his long time friend "Bill Sublett
became a Lincoln presenter in 1977. He took first place in the Lincoln
Look-alike contest in Hodgenville in 1983, beating Glenn Schnizlein (2nd
place), Jim Sayre (3rd place) and several others. Bill won 8 out of 9
Lincoln look-alike contests in Kentucky. He joined the Association of
Lincoln Presenters in 1992, attended just about all of our conventions and
won the award for the Best Abraham Lincoln in 1999. On last years Christmas
card Bill wrote "For all the things done in honor of Abraham Lincoln, thanks
for bringing us together." He signed his card Bill Sublett and A. Lincoln,
and his Lincoln signature was in Lincoln's own hand. Even with 155 Abe
Lincolns, it will not be possible to replace Bill Sublett. We will miss his
adorable smile here below, but I take comfort knowing that Bill is enjoying
the heavenly music of Johnny Cash up above".
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