POST FALLS — Syd Albright had a way of connecting the past to the present.

He also had quite a way of connecting people to their own personal histories and to each other.

“I met Syd some 20 years ago," Roger Dunham of Athol said Tuesday morning.

Dunham had a rare airplane that Albright wanted to write about.

"Only two left flying in the world," Dunham said. "He called me wanting to do a story about it for the Coeur d’Alene Press History Corner, a section he was developing. We set up a meeting to discuss the details and our friendship began. I knew Syd to be a great guy, always trying to bring out the best in everyone." 

He said Albright would say, "In 100 years when some kids are cleaning out the attic and they find a dusty old trunk, inside there will be a stack or a pack of yellow papers, our popcorn stories written down as Syd’s version, tales of those we knew, worked with, played with, fought with, prayed with.”

“Syd would say, 'We give those kids a view of history that was alive and real,'" Dunham said. "He would say, ‘We all knew somebody or were somebody who made a difference, and we should share that with future generations.'

"Thanks, Syd, for pushing us to write it down."

This week's meeting of the North Idaho History Club was all about its founder, who died Dec. 1 at his Post Falls home at 93 after a battle with cancer.

Club members shared fond remembrances of how Albright wove intricate journalistic tapestries in his vast array of deeply researched topics for his 600 History Corner articles. It is estimated that he wrote nearly 1 million words throughout his time as a Press columnist, with each article containing 1,499 words.

Beverly Guenette of Coeur d’Alene said she remembers a profound question Albright would pose: “What’s your dash?” 

“He said, ‘We’re all a lot more than just a food processor through life,’” she said. 

The dash representing the span of time between a birth and death date, Guenette said Albright would ask, “What’s in between?" and encourage others to talk about their "dash." 

Terry McClintick of Hauser said he appreciates Albright in many ways.

“We all have great memories of Syd. God bless him, rest in peace for all eternity,” McClintick said.

He said he especially appreciated how Albright encouraged him to write stories from his personal life.

"Once you’re gone, if you haven’t written it down, your stories go with you," McClintick said. "As you’re sitting down in front of your computer and you’re typing, you’re going back many, many years and all of a sudden the faces come back, the names come back, the experiences come back, and I was able to type it all out. It was so cool because now I have it all in writing and I can pass it on to my children.”

He looked up, as though to Heaven.

“So thank you, Syd,” he said.

Writing articles and capturing history were just the tip of the iceberg as a room of more than 50 shared stories of Albright's kindness and compassion; his patriotism and military service; his love for his wife, Charlene "Chicky" Albright, who preceded him in death in July 2022; his faith; his connection to people and events around the world and throughout time; and the legacy he left by building a family of history lovers who look forward to seeing each other every week.

The stories will continue at 11 a.m. Friday during Albright's celebration of life at The Altar Church, 901 E. Best Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

    Terry McClintick shares how the North Idaho History Club has become a family as he speaks Tuesday morning during a tribute to Syd Albright, who died Dec. 1. A celebration of life for Albright will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Altar Church.
  

    Syd Albright's Air Force cap and North Idaho History Club bell. When Albright created the club, "he armed himself with two bells — a small one for polite interruptions and a big one to really get talkers’ attention. Because talk they do, and it’s delightful to witness. It’s even better to be one of the participants," former Press Managing Editor Mike Patrick wrote in a 2020 editorial about the club.
  

    Jim Pearl holds up a tooth of an ancient, massive megalodon shark on Tuesday while discussing an article on the subject written by the late Syd Albright.

    Kenny Moore, retired Marine Corps officer, holds his hat in his hand as he speaks Tuesday about North Idaho History Club founder Syd Albright, who died Dec. 1.