March 21 in A.A. History

In 1881, Anne Ripley [right, 1915], Dr. Bob S.’s future wife, was born in Oak Park, Illinois. She was the only daughter and the oldest of four children, her brothers being Paul, Charles, and Joseph. Dr. Bob once said of her, “For some reason, we alcoholics seem to have the gift of picking out the world’s finest women.” Bill W. referred to her as a “founder” of A.A. and “the mother of our first group in Akron [Ohio].” He described her as a woman who possessed a deep faith in God and an unwavering love for those who suffer.

In 1913, a memorial service for Bertha Bamford, who had died in November 1912 and was Bill W.’s high school love, was held in the chapel at Burr and Barton Seminary by the YMCA and YWCA associations of the school (Bill was president of the former, while Bertha had been president of the latter). A short article [left] on page 2 of The Bennington Evening Banner stated, “Many glowing tributes were paid to Miss Bamford’s memory by students of the upper classes and teachers.”

In 1915, Frederick Harold “Hal” M. was born in McDowell, North Carolina, the first child of Fred Harold and Louise Emma Clarke M. He sobered up in 1964 and became known as “Dr. Gratitude” for the custom “Attitude of Gratitude” pins he designed and gave to members.

In 1966, Edwin “Ebby” T. [right], from the last photo taken of him], the man Bill W. called his sponsor, died sober. He spent the last two years of his life at McPike’s Farm on Peaceable Street, a pioneering treatment facility for alcoholics located in Galway, New York, just 25 miles north of his hometown, Albany. Ebby’s caretakers believed he had given up after the death of his dear brother, Ken, in January 1966. Although he fell ill, Ebby resisted going to the hospital until he seemed to realize it was the end. “Well, we all have to go sometime,” he admitted before suffering an apparent stroke. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Ballston Spa, but by Sunday night, he was in a coma. Ebby died of a stroke (cerebral thrombosis) at 1:00 a.m. on Monday and was later buried in Albany Rural Cemetery.