Resident Tells Lions Club Memories of Helen Keller

STONE HARBOR – Resident Peter Svanda, who worked for and befriended the famous Helen Keller during his childhood and into her old age, shared memories of his experience with the Stone Harbor Lions Club at its bimonthly dinner meeting Jan. 22 at The Golden Inn.
He displayed an autographed copy of Keller’s first book “The Story of My Life,” a signed photograph she gave him and some 2003 Alabama Helen Keller quarters, the only coin minted in Braille in the United States.
Svanda said Keller was “an amazing lady who had a major impact” on his life.
“The importance of my presentation is to bring attention to the wonderful dedication and support of the Lions Club to the sight impaired,” Svanda told the Herald.
According to the Lion’s Club International’s Web site, Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” during the association’s international convention in 1925.
Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired and demonstrate their commitment to sight conservation through eyeglass recycling, partnerships and countless other services.
Local Chapter President “King Lion” Phil Fiore said Keller has had “a big impact on lionism.” He said the group was particularly excited to have Svanda share his memories of the “Patron Saint of the Lions.”
Svanda met Keller when they both lived in Westport, Conn., which he described as “a relatively wealthy community, about an hour from New York City by train.”
Svanda was raised by his grandparents, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1906. His Slovak grandparents arrived at Ellis Island and were sent to Easton/Westport, Conn. to hand dig reservoirs for the New York City Water Supply, he said.
Svanda’s grandmother was a laundress for Helen Keller, and that is how he started at the age of 12 to mow her lawn and wash windows.
Svanda told the Lions how he would ride his bike about five miles to visit Keller and when he was 15-years-old and she was 65, in 1946.
After the famous Ann Sullivan Macey died, Polly Thomson became Keller’s companion along with Etu, a German Shepherd Seeing Eye Dog. These were the only others who lived in a 12-room house with Keller.
Svanda reminisced about large dinner parties frequently held at the Keller residence.
“Polly Thompson would talk to Miss Keller by spelling everything into her hand. They were very good at this and they could keep up with any conversation. Miss Thompson would then tell everyone what Miss Keller had said.”
When Svanda was old enough to drive, Keller arranged for him to become her part-time chauffer for when she would to go out for shopping, meetings and business.
“Miss Keller, Miss Thompson and I would go to the movies a couple of time a month, and Miss Thompson would, using sign language, in Miss Keller’s hand explained everything that was going on. They would both laugh and cry depending on what the film was about. Remember, Miss Keller could not hear or see, and yet she could enjoy a film.”
Keller had Svanda construct a mile-long fence around the back yard and into the woods, which Keller would use to guide herself during the walk. He said she loved to walk and did so often.
When the weather was nice, Svanda said, Keller and Thompson would meet on the patio for cocktails. Keller always drank bourbon, and Thompson drank scotch whiskey, he said. During the winter, in the late afternoon, cocktails were served in the living room with an immense, roaring fire, which he said Keller enjoyed.
Svanda described Keller as “66-years-old and very young for her age.”
He said she would frequently invite him to her office to talk. She would use a large upright non-Braille typewriter to type sentences and would ask Svanda about school, jobs and everything he was doing.
“She would put two fingers across my lips, and three fingers on my vocal cords, and I would speak in clear distinct words, and she would understand everything I said. We would talk about what I was doing, how the mowing was going, the gardening, and window washing,” Svanda said.
He said he’s often wondered why he became such good friends with Keller.
“The only reason I can think of is that Miss Keller did not have very many opportunities to know and talk with a 12-year-old boy on a regular basis,” Svanda said.
“Miss Keller could talk, but you must remember that she had never heard a spoken word, so it was all taught by placing three fingers on the vocal cords and two fingers on your lips, and through trial and error, she did learn. It was relatively easy for me to understand her, although I preferred her writing to me on the typewriter,” he said.
“Miss Keller was rich intellectually and in friendship. In 1957, when Jeralyn, my wife, and I got married, she sold me her 1947 Black Pontiac, which we loved and kept for many years. I really feel blessed to have had the opportunity to know her, work for her and be her friend.”