To an editor of a publication that prints obituaries, death makes its presence known in every issue. We are reminded every month of the fragility and fleeting nature of life. Bert Hemphill virtually created the Museum of American Folk Art and opened our eyes to the lively world of 20th-century folk art, including contemporary folk art.
Naysayers are a dime a dozen in any field.
Those with enthusiasm and the courage of their convictions are much rarer. They often have more influence than the naysayers. They force us to open our eyes and see what they have seen. Bert Hemphill was one of those eye-openers. If Dean Fales had a fault, it was modesty.