Molovinsky Bashed for Complimenting Deceased Friend

We're miles apart politically. For example, I think Don Cunningham would be a great governor. But this little bastard has the nerve to call him "easy smile boy." Jealous, I suppose. Despite these differences, Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky is my friend. He cares about people, whether they are minority merchants on Hamilton Street or low-income homeowners forced to undergo systematic home inspections.

Like me, Molovinsky is a product of the 60's and was clearly a big part of Allentown's counter-culture movement. I search titles with a woman who was friendly with Michael in those days. She tells me he was the funniest person she knew. A Lehigh Valley Woody Allen, it's no surprise Molovinsky became friendly with a person he calls a "one man art machine," Gregg Weaver. As Michael tells it, Weaver inspired a generation of young artists. Molovinsky also knew Gregg's wife Fran, and took their wedding picture. He knew her for thirty-eight years.

When Fran died suddenly and unexpectedly, Michael mentioned it to me. It certainly bothers him that both Gregg, a victim of diabetes, and Fran are now gone. At the Chen Arts blog, he reminisces a little at her passing.

"around 1980 fran worked at bethlehem steel. she was a very statuesque woman, and we joked that her presence there was a safety hazard for the men. during this time she produced an amazing series of very large paintings (6X10 ft.) on the open hearth and other aspects of bethlehem steel. these paintings projected enormous energy and were exhibited at kutztown university."

Michael was paying his compliments to a friend. She was the wife of another friend. He paints her as an attractive woman with enough artistic talent to have her work showcased at a local university.

To add to his grief, Michael's story has now been slammed by the Villas , branded as "sexist remarks about a Chen member who died tragically recently. You have no class whatsoever Mike or brains." They add it is "absolutely shameful that Allentown Mayoral Hopeful Mike "3%" Molovinsky is leeringly fixated on a tragically deceased person's 'statuesque' figure. Juyst [sic] incredible. Does he realize it's not 1960 anymore? He's disgusting." "MM is a sexist pig. To attempt to pay tribute to a woman's legacy by invoking memories of her 'shapely figure' (another definition of statuesque) is worse than insensitive, it's telling a lot about the source. But that's the way it is when you live in Memory Lane. Stuck in the '60s."

Obviously, there's nothing even remotely sexist about Michael's compliment. Of all people, I would think the Villas would respect Michael's loss. They instead exploit Fran's death to attempt to alienate Molovinsky from whatever is left of Allentown's art community. In doing so, they just continue to diminish themselves.

They also hurt Michael. In their sick world, that's a bonus.

Yesterday morning, when Fran Weaver was laid to rest in a Lehigh County potter's field, Molovinsky was there to pay his final respects. The Villas were nowhere to be found. But they have a good excuse. They were busy trashing someone on their blog.

Photo Credit: Michael Molovinsky