Knitch Magazine

Knitting for Gilda's Club: How Gilda Radner keeps us in stitches.

Genius comes in many forms. Scientific theories, thought-provoking philosophies, ground-breaking discoveries. There's another form of genius, another expression of brilliance that is sometimes overlooked, but absolutely necessary to human survival. It is the genius of comedy -- the exposure of the ridiculous, the mocking of our own importance that helps us cope with the harsh realities and confounding complexities of our all too human condition.

Photo left: Gilda with her husband, Gene Wilder, the original Leo Bloom of The Producers.

To be effective, comedy presents us first with the stressful reality of our existence. Then it annihilates our perceptions with poignant introspection. Our realization of the absurdity we've been forced to acknowledge is released in an explosion of laughter.

Where once there was angst and confusion, there is now the feeling of acceptance. We are all human. We all suffer. We are all in this chaos of living...together.

There must be clowns

We are in such need of this release of our tension that comedians are celebrated as heroes. From the King's court jesters to the television stars of today, we admire and adore the people whose brilliant observances reduce us to tears of laughter.

"Hey, world! You're not going to get me down," they proclaim like The Mouse Who Roared, "I'm going to expose this existence for the preposterous, beastly thing it is. I'm going to make fun of it...because if I laugh at it, it can't hurt me."

There are legions of men who’ve taken upon themselves responsibility for heckling this universe we can’t command. And more and more women are now braving the spotlight to bring a uniquely feminine perspective to the uncontrolled absurdity of life. Among these women, perhaps the greatest of all was Gilda Radner.

Gilda Radner was the comedic genius who captured our hearts with her ever-serious Baba Wawa, mis-guided Emily Litella, grotesque Roseanne Rosannadanna, and sad little Lisa Loopner, the teenage nerd who escaped insanity by lapsing into comforting catatonia.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Gilda dropped out of college to move to Toronto, Canada to be with her boyfriend at the time. There, she honed her craft as a comedienne at Second City, where she caught the attention of producer, Lorne Michaels who created Saturday Night Live in 1975.

At his invitation, Gilda was the first cast member hired, bringing her slapstick humor and preposterous alter egos to the fledgling program that brought us such greats as Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris and Dan Ackroyd -- each a genius in their own right.

As a member of the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" Gilda helped change the face of television comedy forever, pushing the limits of TV censorship, and contributing to our vernacular the dismissive Litellian phrase that begs forgiveness for unimaginable cluelessness, "Never mind."

Saturday Night Live was a hit, Gilda became an icon, and then something went terribly wrong. That effervescent, irrepressible woman who sparkled with lunacy fell ill. Doctors failed to diagnose her as she grew more and more unhealthy, and struggling for answers some suggested her problems were psychological. Gilda persisted, and eventually the cause became clear: her symptoms were the result of ovarian cancer.

"Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to," Gilda once said of her challenge as she bravely underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

Her husband and soul-mate, actor Gene Wilder, was her strength during her courageous battle, always believing she'd pull through. But, sadly, after a period of remission, her cancer returned, metastasized, and took her life in October 1986. She was only 42 years old.

This was unexpected and heartbreaking news to her old friends at SNL, and to the tearful Steve Martin who that night on the show introduced a tender tribute to his old friend, colleague and touchingly hilarious dance partner.

Yes, the loss was devastating. But, as often happens, out of this devastation came great goodness.

It’s always something…

Gene knew that Gilda had dreamed that all people affected by cancer, and their families and friends, would have access to the same kind of emotional and social support she received during her illness. So in honor of his wife he collaborated with Joanna Bull, the psychotherapist who had treated Gilda throughout her illness, to co-establish Gilda's Club, a non-profit, non-residential homelike setting where individuals diagnosed with cancer, their friends and their families could go for free education and support.

The first Gilda’s Club was opened in New York City in 1995. Today, there are 22 Gilda’s Club’s in cities throughout North America that have helped individuals and their families deal with this emotionally and physically exhausting illness. In happy, comfortable and comforting surroundings, over 50,000 members have participated in free networking and support groups, lectures and workshops, and social activities.

One very active affiliate is in Westchester, NY where men, women, teens and children gather for a wide array of social and educational activities. In this comfortable, supportive environment they network, learn, enjoy life…and, most of all, laugh.

Cindy Valk-Danish, LCSW, a member of the Board of Directors of this Gilda’s Club, is a knitter and a licensed psychotherapist. She says of the club's knitting group, "Being together in this knitting group has bonded the women together in their love of knitting, and has provided great comfort to them during this time of their lives.”

“Knitting is a great way to manage stress. You can become absorbed in the process," she told us. “The Gilda’s Club Westchester knitting group has helped members 'knit' their lives together.”

Some clubs not only use knitting groups to help relieve stress and create friendships, many sell knitted items to help raise funds. And events like Knit Michigan, where participants can buy yarn, patterns or finished goods, also contribute to Gilda's Club and other oncology-related organizations.

Photo left: The Gilda's Club in Twin Cities was fortunate enough to have Nicky Epstein donate this pretty Slouch Hat Pattern that knitters could download for free and then knit up for Gilda's Club members undergoing chemotherapy.

All Gilda’s Clubs depend upon generous donations from individual donors, sponsors, money from their tireless fund-raising efforts, and the kindness of countless volunteers. Benefits like the Westchester Club's Tennis Tournament on July 20, 2010 and the Toronto Gilda Club's Variety Show on November 22 are organized by Gilda' Clubs throughout North America to help support their continued good works.

A lot in the world has changed since 1986. And a lot has remained the same. Saturday Night Live continues to amuse us with its weekly lampooning of the absurdities that make us human. Cancer continues to affect millions of people's lives despite amazing new technologies and treatments. And the spirit of Gilda Radner continues to inspire us with its forlorn fragility, madcap irreverence and -- most of all -- with its sheer joy at ever having danced on this earthly plane.

Thank you, Gilda. Thank you so much for the laughter and tears you shared with us. May heaven take care of our lovely and sweet ballerina.

Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.

--Gilda Radner