The Perseid Meteor Shower arrived last weekend to carry my dear friend Renate Neumann across the universe.
She left this form on Saturday, August 12, suffering from complications brought on by Parkinson’s Disease. The great artist’s hands could paint no more and we stand much diminished for it.
Commentary
Renate and her husband Peter were among the first to welcome me to northern Nevada when I moved here from Las Vegas in 1971.
I had worked on Supreme Court Justice Al Gunderson’s campaign and he invited me to dinner at the Pagni Family’s Jubilee Italian Restaurant in Pleasant Valley between Reno and Carson City. Renate and Peter were the judge’s other dinner guests that memorable evening.
It marked the beginning of a 53-year friendship. Pete and Renate married on January 23, 1969 at the Reno home of hall of fame photographer Don Dondero and his wife, Liz.
Peter Chase Neumann was in the early stages of building a top gun law practice and Renate was a commercial artist at Doyle McKenna, the longtime advertising agency for the Sparks Nugget. She freelanced a little work for my fledgling media enterprise after I opened my own store awhile later.
Renate was an excellent graphic designer but her genius truly shone thru on canvas. My brother, Larry, was visiting one me one summer and by chance, we ran into Renate. She knew a good subject when she saw one and asked my big little brother to sit for her portraiture group.
The fee structure was rather curious. Twenty bucks for posing clothed, but only $15 for sitting nude. I never asked why. I could only guess that the rights fee was pro-rated on the weight of clothing.
Sometime later, I also sat for her group. Fully dressed.
Renate later included the Barbano boys’ portraits at a weekend showing at the downtown Reno First United Methodist Church. I had never seen the finished work before that day.
Our dear sainted Italian mother Mary would have said her sons never looked better. Somewhere, I have a photo of Renate holding those portraits. If I can unearth it, I will include it in the Barbwire expanded web edition at NevadaLabor.com/
Renate brought beauty wherever she went. She had a radiant kindness about her. The moment you met her, you knew you had a friend in the petite lady with the movie star presence. She was the real deal, complete with an elegant German accent somewhere betwixt supermodel Heidi Klum and actresses Elke Sommer and Marlene Dietrich.
When she talked, people listened. The closest I ever saw Renate get to losing her cool came once when I mentioned something with canola oil in it.
“Throw it away!” she interjected and lectured me on all its detriments.
Renate and Peter founded the Angel Kiss Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping families of cancer-stricken children. Their White Water Race & Jazz Festival set the standard for every downtown Reno riverfront event which followed. (See the Barbwire of June 26, 2005, linked to the online edition.)
Even in her final days, Renate exercised regularly, as best she was able. She had just turned 84 on July 31.
I was notified when Peter Neumann copied me on an e-mail to her family in Germany.
I bowed my head, wept awhile, prayed, cried a little more, sang a few songs in breaking voice, then played Eva Cassidy blues followed by Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. It’s the most transcendent composition I know and always uplifts me from low and into a soaring soundscape that emulates flight.
I also emanated a meditation to my late wife Betty to embrace our friend Renate as she embarks on her next journey.
I put on a little music from Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, then went outside to breathe a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
Reach out your hand
If your cup be empty
If your cup is full,
May it be again.
Let it be known
There is a fountain
That was not made
By the hands of men.
IN MEMORIAM. My father, Andrew Henry Barbano, died of Parkinson’s as did Renate.
As fate would have it, a few days ago, I was informed that Dr. Mindy Lokshin had retired from the general practice of medicine. (She’s married to longtime Sparks allergist Dr. Boris Lokshin.)
Dr. Mindy apparently un-retired rather quickly, helping start the Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada. Their purpose is “improvement of the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disease, their families and care partners.” Their goal is “connecting people to the information, support services, programs and activities they need to enhance wellness and live an active, engaged life.”
It’s a completely local non-profit, not affiliated with any national organization.
From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. this Saturday, August 19, they are hosting a showing of “STILL — A Michael J. Fox Movie.” The film stars America’s most famous Parkinson’s victim. A question and answer session follows with Dr. Varga, a movement disorder specialist.
Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided. The location is Five Star Senior Living, 3201 Plumas Street in Reno. Reservations are necessary. You may call (775) 525-0205 or e-mail anne@pscnn.org
They deserve your support. Tell them Renate Neumann referred you.
Stay safe, get vaxxed and pray for those cruelly afflicted by the cruelly small minds on this small planet, especially victims of our perpetual wars.
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Quarantino Barbáno is a 54-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com/ Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since August 12, 1988. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us Lyrics from the Grateful Dead’s “Ripple,” 1970.
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