Editor's Note: Recently, The New York Times ran an article on Ray Bradbury and his lifelong enthusiasm for "halls of books." We thought that peg enough of a reason to reprise an article by a departed and enthusiastic supporter of seniorwomen.com, Jean Pond, Lunch With a Legend.

The last time we met was the annual dinner meeting of the Long Beach Chapter of the American Association of University Women. Ray was being honored as Senior of the Year and I was Senior of the Year for 2001. At our original meeting part of the evening’s business was amending the bylaws. Ray was fascinated. I was sure that anybody who was that interested in bylaw amendment would be interested in everything. He was and still is.

I told him that I felt that one of his greatest accomplishments was marrying the right lady. He agreed enthusiastically.

Ray and Maggie were married for 56 years until her death in 2003, raising four daughters who have provided eight grandchildren. He met his wife in Fowler’s Book Store in Los Angeles. There was an instant attraction. Ray said, “She finally took a vow of poverty and married me.”

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• Ray Bradbury: Lunch With A Legend