Comments on: Nick Skala – September 16, 1981 to August 8, 2009 http://pnhp.org/blog PNHP's official blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:04:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: KatieHCN http://pnhp.org/blog/nick-skala-%e2%80%93-september-16-1981-to-august-8-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-10269 KatieHCN Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:58:29 +0000 http://pnhp.org/blog/?page_id=411#comment-10269 Nick's eloquence and insight into the political machine helped advance single-payer further than we could have expected in this legislative moment. He is largely the reason for the energy moving forward to a vote on single-payer legislation in the House, and while it didn't happen, we still expect it in the Senate. Nick's advocacy was clear, concise, and honest. Something that is hard to come by in Washington DC. We lost a leader in Nick Skala, but he taught those who knew him not to waste a single breath advocating for anything less than what we know this country so desperately needs - Medicare for All. Thank you, Nick. You are missed so much. Nick’s eloquence and insight into the political machine helped advance single-payer further than we could have expected in this legislative moment. He is largely the reason for the energy moving forward to a vote on single-payer legislation in the House, and while it didn’t happen, we still expect it in the Senate. Nick’s advocacy was clear, concise, and honest. Something that is hard to come by in Washington DC. We lost a leader in Nick Skala, but he taught those who knew him not to waste a single breath advocating for anything less than what we know this country so desperately needs – Medicare for All. Thank you, Nick. You are missed so much.

]]> By: Bev Alves http://pnhp.org/blog/nick-skala-%e2%80%93-september-16-1981-to-august-8-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-8502 Bev Alves Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:47:13 +0000 http://pnhp.org/blog/?page_id=411#comment-8502 I never got a chance to meet Nick, but I was on the last LCGHC Steering Committee Conference call that he was on. It was only a day and a half before he passed. Even by phone I was greatly touched by his enthusiasm, energy, brillance and devotion. It all came through on the call. I had planned to call Nick the following week, to discuss my "greed disorder" theory with him. I felt he would have an idea about how legislation could be enacted to control damage to society from those who have this rapacious condition. I knew he would be working on the Weiner amendment that weekend, so I decided I would wait until the following week before I called. When I read about his passing that Sunday morning, I was devastated. Nick will always be a part of our success in time to come. He was a shining star whose light will always be with us. I never got a chance to meet Nick, but I was on the last LCGHC Steering Committee Conference call that he was on. It was only a day and a half before he passed. Even by phone I was greatly touched by his enthusiasm, energy, brillance and devotion. It all came through on the call.

I had planned to call Nick the following week, to discuss my “greed disorder” theory with him. I felt he would have an idea about how legislation could be enacted to control damage to society from those who have this rapacious condition. I knew he would be working on the Weiner amendment that weekend, so I decided I would wait until the following week before I called. When I read about his passing that Sunday morning, I was devastated.

Nick will always be a part of our success in time to come. He was a shining star whose light will always be with us.

]]> By: jfloyd http://pnhp.org/blog/nick-skala-%e2%80%93-september-16-1981-to-august-8-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-2931 jfloyd Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:16:38 +0000 http://pnhp.org/blog/?page_id=411#comment-2931 Nick was a leader in the fight for single payer and equity in health care. Everyone who knew him remembers his intelligence, his dedication to the fight for justice, and his sharp wit. I miss him a great deal, both as a friend and colleague. Nick was a leader in the fight for single payer and equity in health care. Everyone who knew him remembers his intelligence, his dedication to the fight for justice, and his sharp wit. I miss him a great deal, both as a friend and colleague.

]]> By: eanilles http://pnhp.org/blog/nick-skala-%e2%80%93-september-16-1981-to-august-8-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-2824 eanilles Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:02:20 +0000 http://pnhp.org/blog/?page_id=411#comment-2824 What I would have said, Dear Nick, Thank you so much for the support, encouragement, and information you gave me as I was beginning my new life as an activist in health care reform. From my first training in Chicago in 2005, to my first talk in Minnesota (for which you provided ample technical assistance, quality information, and over-all moral support), I have considered you a pillar of the national single-payer movement. Watching you rise to national prominence was so gratifying. You are a part of my talks, as I show the slide you created of Marie Antoinette with the caption, “Let them buy insurance.” It always gets a laugh, and I always credit you. I will continue to do that Nick, and thank you for the inspiration and leadership you gave to me. With enormous admiration and gratitude, Lisa Nilles Minnesota What I would have said,
Dear Nick,
Thank you so much for the support, encouragement, and information you gave me as I was beginning my new life as an activist in health care reform. From my first training in Chicago in 2005, to my first talk in Minnesota (for which you provided ample technical assistance, quality information, and over-all moral support), I have considered you a pillar of the national single-payer movement. Watching you rise to national prominence was so gratifying. You are a part of my talks, as I show the slide you created of Marie Antoinette with the caption, “Let them buy insurance.” It always gets a laugh, and I always credit you. I will continue to do that Nick, and thank you for the inspiration and leadership you gave to me.

With enormous admiration and gratitude,
Lisa Nilles
Minnesota

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