Sunday, July 20, 2008

Howard Kurtz's appreciation of Tony Snow ["As Good as His Words," Style, July 14] hit the right notes in honoring Mr. Snow's public service and private life by remembering the "relentless cheerfulness" he displayed at all times and his well-deserved reputation among his colleagues for being a "really genuine guy."

Yet Tony was at his kindest when nobody important was looking. In spring 2007, while I was still a student at Davidson College, Tony's alma mater, he befriended me after we sparred -- substantively but tactfully -- at a student question-and-answer session on campus. Upon hearing that I was moving to Washington, he gave me his number and said, "Give me a call! We'll bring you into the office."

"The office," of course, was the West Wing. For 45 minutes, Tony and I talked about our alma mater, our families, mutual friends and our futures -- and it was there that he paid me the greatest compliment anyone ever has, when he mentioned that I reminded him of himself as a young man. I can only begin to hope that my life will be as full of love and friendship as his was.

JOEL HEWETT

Washington