An Ode to Hyman Gurman
This morning, an old line of poetry came into my head. It was from an assignment I had to do after my 7th grade class visited a sewage treatment plant and got a tour from its Superintendent, Hyman Gurman.
“Here we are, students from Mirman
Off to see Hyman Gurman”
It’s just a weird little rhyme that’s stuck with me for over 40 years.
I Googled him and ended up reading his obituary. What an interesting life he had. Just goes to show all the amazing things you never learn about people you meet in passing.
I would have loved to hear about growing up a Rabbi’s son in Manchuria. But at 13 years old all I knew was he had a funny name and worked in a place that smelled bad.
Everyone you meet is fighting battles you know nothing about, but they probably also have immensely cool stories you know nothing about.
Thank you for being so hospitable and kind to a bunch of silly 7th graders who had no idea how cool you really were, Hyman.
About The Author
Greg Bulmash
Greg Bulmash has had a wide and varied career as a humorist, journalist, novelist, software developer, and educator. With a degree in Creative Writing and multiple developer certifications, he is exploring the intersections of tech, AI, and creativity, then sharing his findings and creations here.