Bob Keeshan died today. Ray Rayner died Wednesday. Fred Rogers, of course,died last February.

I was a kid, growing up in northwest Indiana, watching WGN Chicago TV. Ray Raynor, Bob Keeshan, they were there for me, long before Sesame Street. I woke every morning, rushed through my bowl of LIFE cereal, scambled into my Catholic school uniform, and sat to watch a couple of minutes of Ray Rayner’s show before going to school. In summer I had his whole show to myself, on our Zenith Black and White console, while mom ironed altar linens for Holy Name Church in the living room.

My colleagues and I reminisced today over lunch, one guy even knew Ray, his dad and Ray would play cards at a little greek restaurant downtown. Imagine being 11 and your dad is playing poker with Oliver O. Oliver.
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