Alfred P. Brainard

To Mrs. Brainard and Skye, Lael and Jana:

I was sorry to read about Al's passing. I have often told the story of a doubles paddle tennis match in Warsaw where, playing the net, he nailed me with a body shot and said, "If you're going to stand there like a Roman statue, I'm going to do it to you like a Roman statue." That's an exact quote, by the way.

Steaming, I kept playing until I had an opportunity to return the favor, getting him in the backside as he twisted his...