As a member of Gene Siskel’s family, I must tell you how outraged I still am at Rick Kogan’s “review” of Gene’s funeral (Page 1, Feb. 23). Is nothing sacred anymore? I am sorry our beloved Rabbi Vernon Kurtz’s beautiful eulogy and comments about Gene didn’t meet with Rick’s approval.
It is shocking that your outstanding paper would even allow an article with such remarks to be printed. “. . .`I felt that the rabbi talked too much about himself,’ said one prominent columnist. `There was no passion, and his words didn’t capture the Gene most people knew.’ ” How could anyone have thought, uttered and then written in a newspaper article those inaccurate, critical and cold-hearted words at a time of such enormous suffering and tragedy?
To have the audacity to compare those who attended Gene’s funeral to movie reviewers who wanted to criticize his spiritual leader truly dips to a new journalistic and ethical low. Would Rick Kogan have the nerve to critique a eulogy by Cardinal Francis George at Holy Name Cathedral, or the Rev. John Buchanan at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago? I wonder.
Rick Kogan goes on to degrade Gene by implying Gene’s friends preferred betting on horses to attending his funeral. That is completely outrageous. The final blow comes when Rick quotes some gamblers who see a “lucky” coincidence that Two Thumbs Up is racing on Gene’s funeral day. Did all of us who are so bereaved really need to read that in the newspaper? What happened to respect?
Rick Kogan’s “review” of Gene Siskel’s funeral is a complete disgrace to your paper. All of us who loved Gene are devastated by his tragic and untimely death. We didn’t need an article like that to add to our already excruciating feelings.
I am sorry Gene’s funeral didn’t rate with Rick Kogan. Believe it or not, we weren’t looking for ratings.
