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WAF Mourns the Loss of Our Friend, Kim Peek

Thanks to all those who sent emails to our charity asking about Kim Peek...who passed away on December 19, 2009. 

For those of you who do not remember Kim Peek, he was the man that graced our stage with his Dad, Fran Peek, to present the Education Award to the National Scholarship Award for Workplace Innovation and Design.  While on stage, Kim reminded his father what time they would need to leave in order to catch their limo to the airport.  An unusual comment for a presenter?  Not for Kim.  He was relentlessly honest and always said what was on his mind.  Kim Peek was the man that Dustin Hoffman studied and modeled in his portrayal of the "Rain Man" which won over a dozen film awards including 4 Oscars and was nominated for dozens of more awards internationally. 

Kim also visited us in Chicago a few weeks prior to the awards to throw out the first pitch at a White Sox game.   The pitch wasn't a 98 mph fastball.  In fact, he just walked to the batter's box and handed the ball to the catcher.  We definitely enjoyed it when Kim was being interviewed, actually grilled, by Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson, about White Sox statistics dating back to 1900.  Kim not only knew the stats, he quoted scores of the games by inning, the day of the week of the game, and the day of the week that the starting pitcher was born.  Kim was unique.

One of the emails that we received was from our friend, Sean Stephenson.   Sean writes, "When Kim first met me, he said...you're small and you're in a wheelchair."  That was Kim.  

Kim Peek and his Father, Fran, are in our thoughts and prayers today.  Please join us and say a prayer of thanks for this unique gift.  There will only be one Kim Peek, and we thank God that we had of glimpse of this extraordinary and gifted man...who brought so much joy to the people he met and gave so much hope to people who are different.

Kim was born on November 11, 1951...which was a Sunday, and he died December 19, 2009.  That was a Saturday.  I had to look those up.  Kim, you will be missed.