Cathy O'Neil, front and center in pink sweatshirt, with friends from the 2017 Bard Show.

It is hard to believe Cathy O'Neil is no longer with us. The so-called “magic mirror” reminds me, logically, that my sadness is a reflection of an equal joy I previously knew. But it is still a strong, difficult feeling I have, even after being away from Atlanta all these years. Cathy was a force. I cannot imagine what this must be like for her family and all those who have interacted with Cathy more regularly.

My contribution to her memory, to the extent I can add, is to try to convey the story of the Atlanta Bard show's founding. This story is perhaps already known to some, but I think it might give others a better sense of who Cathy was and why she was so special.

I first met Cathy when we were on opposite sides of litigation. I had been working several years in the Federal Defender Program, representing the indigent accused, and she was a new assistant U.S. attorney. The few cases on which we were opposed were not that memorable, although I do recall that she played the game straight. But more specifically, I remember going into her office at one point to discuss a case and seeing a poster on her wall from Harvard Law School's Follies, listing her as director.