From February of 2004 through January 2008, Diana and i would often yo-yo (her phrase) between PARC and the campus of Stanford University. In addition to the spiral banister at the Branner Earth Sciences Building, a favorite haunt for Diana was the atrium level of the Hoover Institution, especially when some symposium was in progress.
On those occasions, her biggest pleasures were the serendipitous find of newly published books of Walter Williams & others on the tables outside the conference halls and the chance encounter with any of the authors. In early 2005, as we were exiting the elevator to the atrium, we saw the silhouette of a thin gentleman holding the door as i was wheeling Diana toward the Library.
She immediately recognized him and, as we approached, said “Professor Bork, I want to tell you how much pleasure you brought to so many who read The Tempting of America.” He used some practiced self-deprecatory humor, “So YOU ‘re the one who liked the book.”
Diana continued, “Your summation of Cohn v. California was sheer genius and, after I showed it to Richard, years ago, he got a big laugh out of a superior court judge once he was excused from jury duty.”
Diana quickly added, “I better be rolling on before you burn your fingers.” (He was a chain smoker his left hand was behind his back as he held the door open.) She was saddened to read of his death in 2012.
