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Ladies Host Book Chat May 20: Theo of Golden

Posted: 5/8/2026

About the Book

Theo of Golden follows Theo, an elderly, mysterious man who arrives alone in the small Southern town of Golden with no explanation of why he’s there. At a local coffee shop, he becomes captivated by ninety‑two pencil portraits of townspeople and quietly begins buying them, tracking down each person to return their portrait as a personal gift. Through these encounters, Theo weaves himself into the lives of Golden’s residents, easing burdens, inspiring hope, and transforming the community with his hidden generosity—until a sudden tragedy reveals the deeper, long‑kept secret about who he really is and why he chose Golden in the first place.

About the Author

Allen Levi is an American author, former attorney, and longtime singer‑songwriter from Georgia whose first novel is Theo of Golden.

• He grew up in Columbus, Georgia, studied English and law at the University of Georgia, and practiced law for about a decade.
• In the 1990s he left law to study literature in Scotland, then became a traveling Christian-leaning musician and storyteller, recording over twenty albums while living on family land in Georgia.
• He later turned to writing books drawn from his faith, family, and small‑town life, which eventually led to the breakout success of Theo of Golden. (2003: Oliviatown, a children’s story adapted from one of his songs and 2014: The Last Sweet Mile, a memoir about the final year he spent caring for his brother Gary and their close friendship.
• He has mentioned working on a follow-up novel entitled Ellen of Golden, continuing the Golden story.

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Book Chat Questions (for a print-ready version of the questions, Click HERE)

Theo was attentive to people (specifically faces), birds, flowers, historical markers and music.
QUESTIONS: How do we develop a habit of attentiveness? How can we help our grandchildren learn this habit?

Theo cultivated a love of beauty in his own life. QUESTIONS: have you had moments where beauty moved you in your life? How can we encourage a sense of delight and love for beauty in the lives of our grandchildren? Following are just a few examples in the book.

1. **Seeing the portraits in the coffee shop** 
   • Theo is first stirred by the beauty of the ninety‑two pencil portraits hanging in the local coffee shop—their tenderness and attention to ordinary faces awaken his sense of calling in Golden.
   • That visual beauty doesn’t just please him; it launches his whole “mission” of buying the portraits and returning them to their subjects as gifts.
2. **The act of giving art back** 
   • Each time Theo takes a portrait to its “rightful owner,” he treats the drawing as something sacred, using it as an occasion to see and name the beauty in that person’s life.
   • The art becomes a mirror, and Theo seems repeatedly inspired by how people react—tears, laughter, wonder—when they see themselves rendered with such care.
3. **Everyday beauty around Golden** 
   • Descriptions of the novel emphasize the town’s small‑scale, everyday loveliness—front porches, local shops, natural surroundings—and imply that Theo is continually nourished by this kind of ordinary beauty as he walks, observes, and listens.
   • That background of simple, Southern small‑town life is part of what keeps renewing his energy to keep finding people, telling stories, and quietly blessing them.

QUESTIONS: Did you notice that, with only a couple of very minor mentions, technology has no place in the story? Could Theo have engaged with people he met at the Promenade if he had used texting, Zoom or email? Would his invitations have been as well-received, or as intriguing, if they had been sent in some form other than handwritten letters? What are your thoughts about handwritten correspondence?

QUESTIONS: Theo weaves himself into almost every corner of Golden. Of the main characters listed below, who is your favorite and why?

• Asher Glissen (artist, Golden native) – Deep, lifelong‑level bond tied to art, family, and a major secret about Theo’s past.
• Tony (Verbivore bookshop owner) – Honest friendship built around books, war stories, and hard conversations about guilt and forgiveness.
• Ellen (unhoused, highly educated woman) – Tender, persistent friendship in which Theo sees and protects her dignity when most people don’t.
• Simone Lavoie (music student) – Mentor‑like relationship; he encourages her talent and shows up for important musical milestones.
• Kendrick Whitaker (university custodian) – Trust grows slowly from suspicion into mutual respect; they walk together through Kendrick’s trauma and his care for Lamisha.
• James Ponder (consultant, landlord) – Business tie that becomes a rare, candid friendship; Ponder is one of the few who knows Theo’s true identity and later guards his legacy.
• Shep and Addie Carlile (owners of The Chalice coffee shop) – First local connections; they help him quietly buy and remove portraits, and their café becomes home base for his mission.
• Basil Cannonfield (street guitarist) – Warm, art‑centered friendship; through Basil’s music and story, Theo practices his intuitive way of naming people’s hidden worth.
• Minnette Prentiss (CPA, Asher’s niece) – He helps her see herself as “strong and brave and kind,” nudging her toward a more authentic life.
• Derrick (Minnette’s husband) – Included in holiday gatherings and family moments where Theo’s presence subtly reshapes the household’s priorities.
• Lamisha “Scooby” Whitaker (Kendrick’s daughter) – Hospital‑bed friendship; he brings cake, flowers, and art supplies and writes/illustrates a story just for her.
• Father Lundy (priest at St. James) – Spiritual ally; they share a reverent, steady approach to disruptions and to the town’s griefs.
• Mrs. Ocie Van Blarcum (church matriarch) – Mutual respect as they help defuse a tense moment at church and care for the congregation’s emotional temperature.
• Anita Gidley (Ponder’s secretary) – Practical ally who facilitates many of Theo’s behind‑the‑scenes plans.
• Dr. Goodson “Dr. Good” Ikande (physician) – Brought in (via Ponder) to care for Lamisha; linked to Theo through this act of provision.
• Theo (protagonist) – the elderly, quietly wealthy Portuguese man whose defining traits are attentiveness, generosity, and a deep, almost artful kindness.

2026 FL Comearound Big Success!

Posted: 5/6/2026

BZ to Bob Zvacek (24th Company) for organizing another amazing Florida Comearound. The event hosted almost 90 attendees, including 45 Classmates, 25 wives and 15 widows and significant others greatly appreciated the chance to visit, savor the warm breezes from the St. Johns River and visit with a variety of land- and water-based activities. Click HERE for pictures and more!

Who’s Coming to the Reunion?

Posted: 4/28/2026

The registration lists have just been updated! Click on the ALPHA or BATT/COMPANY link to see who’s registered as of Tuesday, 5 May 2026.

Don’t see one of your buddies on the list? Be sure to contact them to encourage them to come to Annapolis for the great Class of 1966 60th Reunion!

Go Navy! Go Class of 1966!!

Interesting Info at 11 March Class Lunch

Posted: 3/27/2026

Jeff made two interesting and informative points during his talk. 

• The first is that the Association is specifically organized to support the Academy Alumni, and the Foundation’s mission is to support the Midshipmen. The Foundation specifically orients its efforts for the benefit of the Brigade and sponsors programs financially that the Academy may not be able to support.
• The second point is that both the Association and the Foundation do not get involved with political aspects of the decisions made by Academy Leadership who may be required to follow directives and/or guidelines from higher authority.

Our next luncheon in Annapolis will be on Wednesday, July 8^th. Mark your calendars now.

Aging Independently By Design

Posted: 3/6/2026

For those interested in living their lives at home as they age, we have posted this recent article from The Harvard Gazette that may be helpful: Click HERE for the article.

Class Luncheon on 11 March

Posted: 3/4/2026

’66 Classmates, spouses and widows are invited to attend the Class Luncheon on Wednesday 11 March at the Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis. The event will begin at 1130, buffet lunch at 1200, and our Guest Speaker at about 1230. Cost of the luncheon is $45 per person.

Contact Mike Baird by Monday 9 March if you plan to attend (pmbaird@verizon.net). As always, should you be able to attend at the last minute, please come as there is always room for one more!

Supe Addresses Mids About Operation Epic Fury

Posted: 3/2/2026

LtGen Michael Borgschulte ’91, USMC, 66th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, sent the correspondence below to the Brigade of Midshipmen 28 February following the start of U.S. military operations against Iran. This is being shared with the Alumni and Daily Shipmate readers with the permission of USNA.

Brigade of Midshipmen, As you have seen in the news, our Joint Force has begun military operations against Iran. For decades, Iran has waged a proxy war against American forces and our partners across the Middle East. The events now unfolding are historic. They are consequential. And they demand serious reflection from all of us. For some of your company mates who have only recently graduated, this is no longer theoretical. It is not a case study. It is not a classroom discussion. It is real. They are likely participating in these operations today, standing watch, flying sorties, leading Sailors and Marines, executing missions on behalf of our great country. They are carrying the weight of decisions that matter. Soon enough, that responsibility will be yours. This moment should sharpen your perspective. The fate of nations, the stability of regions, and the lives of your fellow Americans are not abstract ideas. They rest in the hands of officers who are competent, disciplined, and morally grounded. The fate of the Iranian people, like so many populations caught under regimes that choose hostility over peace, will ultimately be shaped in part by how professionally and decisively American forces conduct themselves. You’ve heard me talk about warfighting and our focus on it. What you are seeing in the news is an example of why we must be ready. Warfighting is not a slogan. It is the core purpose of our Navy and Marine Corps. It requires intellectual rigor in the classroom, physical toughness on the field, and professional seriousness in every training evolution. It requires leaders who understand history, technology, human behavior, and the moral weight of command. It requires officers who can think clearly under pressure and act decisively in uncertainty. This is not a time for distraction. It is not a time for complacency. It is a time… to double down. Double down academically, master your disciplines. Whether you study engineering, cyber, political science, or literature, your ability to think critically will shape your effectiveness in combat. Double down athletically, physical resilience underpins combat effectiveness. The demands placed on junior officers in operational units are unrelenting. Double down professionally, treat every formation, every brief, every watch, and every leadership opportunity as preparation for the day when the stakes are real. Our mission remains clear: to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue you with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty. Those ideals are not ornamental. They are operational necessities. History does not ask whether we feel ready. It simply arrives. We are not simply another college, our responsibility is far greater. We will continue to prepare you accordingly. With Respect,

Your SupeLtGen Michael J. Borgschulte, USMC66th Superintendent

Navy Football Releases 2026 Schedule

Posted: 2/27/2026

Fans will pack Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for five home games, while big road tests and two neutral-site showdowns add intrigue. Highlights include a Halloween clash with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football at Gillette Stadium and a stretch run featuring Memphis and Charlotte. The season crescendos with college football’s most iconic rivalry, the Army-Navy Game, Dec. 12 at MetLife Stadium—setting the stage for another thrilling chapter.

Click HERE for the 2026 schedule. Remember, our Class 60th Reunion is Saturday, 1 October against Air Force. Join your Classmates in Annapolis at the N* Room to cheer the Mids on to victory!

Reunion Registration Now Open!

Posted: 2/10/2026

It may be Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but it’s not too early to start planning the best party yet…the Great USNA Class of 1966 60th Reunion!

Register now for the 1-4 October gathering in Annapolis, MD!

Pat Muldoon Funeral 9 February: UPDATE

Posted: 2/5/2026

• USNA Website
• NavySports.com

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