ARFF Tribute to Rachel Page ("Pagey") Elliott

Pagey tribute, by Chris O’Connor

The memories I have of Page are many and full. What I will carry with me is her passion for accuracy when it came to dog gait and structure, her love for Casper and Tammy, her joy with the horses, and especially her appreciation of and love for her family, past and present. And of course, what made her so special to so many of us was her talent for making each of us feel special. That seemed to me to be the overriding sentiment spoken about her. We started out in agility together with our young dogs, and we trailed together to many a show. I will never forget when Page and Tammy finished their standard novice title at a trial in Bedford. Her good friends from her agility club were there to root her on. At the end of the run, Tammy turned to wait for Page, leaving the clock ticking away the time. We all started yelling for her to cross the finish line in order to stop the clock. And she did, but not before some man on the sidelines reprimanded all of us for violating the rules. He was correct in his pronouncement, and yet so wrong in the intent. And such shared joy for a woman we all loved.

When I came home after the service for Page, I realized how much of her was in my house here in a place 600 miles from Carlisle. There are pictures of Goldwater Toby and of course Tammy and Casper, and many wonderful memorabilia of Goldens which Page has given me over the years. She is famous for her generosity. So there are many possessions which will always remind me of Page and her connection with Goldens. But the "possessions" which really will have a lasting effect are two of my dogs, Trotter, and now my 13-week-old puppy, Scout. Five years ago I was a very content and happy owner of two wonderful Goldens. Then I got an email from Jan Bramhall that I should seriously consider getting a puppy from her Beau Geste/Featherquest litter. I really didn't want a puppy, but how could I resist! Page and Jan picked out Trot for me and he is a wonderful, mushy boy who is a happy and giving agility and obedience dog. And now I have my puppy Scout, also a combination of the Beau Geste and Featherquest lines. These two are a living legacy of Page and that is not lost on me when I am laughing at their antics or just enjoying their company.

It is almost impossible to sum up one's relationship with Page; a mentor, a cherished friend, a partner in agility. And she was so much more. We baked cookies together on a cold winter day, trying to come up with our own recipe for dog cookies to help with arthritis. They were very smelly! We explored her basement together one late afternoon looking for possible lost treasures in hidden drawers. How many times did we sit in those rickety lawn chairs in the shade of the agility field and have contests to see whose dog could do the most weaves with us only giving commands from our tipsy perches! And without a doubt, what I will miss the most about Page, will be her laughter. I hope I can always remember what it sounds like. She had that wonderful gift of being able to laugh at herself and life. And I will miss sitting out on new spring days, and hot summer evenings on her porch — having a drink with Page and Maris, and eventually Betty when she got done with the horses. One of the best parts of being good friends with Page, was also getting to know her family, especially Alberta who always seemed to keep the household running smoothly!

So I will miss my good friend. She lived a full and long life and would be the first to say so. She invited people into her life and her warmth. Janet Kennedy, a good friend of mine, and a close friend of Page's, summed it up perfectly when she said that Page was the most welcoming person one could know. We all will miss her, and we miss her because we were so lucky to have known her. I wonder what project she is working on in heaven?

Remembering Pagey Elliott, by Paddy Marcotte

I feel very lucky to have known Pagey. She taught me so much — about dogs, of course, but also about the most positive way of growing older. She continued to challenge herself, to learn, and to pursue new passions long after she could have rested on her very impressive laurels.

Pagey made new friends every year, welcoming each one of them with an openness and graciousness rarely seen anymore. It's easy to stay within our existing circle of friends as we age. How many of us have friends 20, 30, 40, or more years younger than we are? If Pagey didn't encourage these new friendships, most of us would never have known her.

Her love for and pride in her family also was wonderful. She always seemed enthusiastic and supportive of all they were doing no matter how close or far away they were.

Pagey had a positive attitude toward any health problem, working to overcome what she could and adapting when she could not beat the changes of aging. She also pushed herself to stay very physically active. Remember, Pagey took up agility in her eighties — after having hip replacement surgery!

And Pagey loved dogs, all dogs, and devoted years of her life to improving their lives and their future care. Her work made differences in so many areas of dog care, breeding, training, and showing — proof positive that the perseverance of one person can add up to quite a lot in this world.

And she was a loving and kind friend to all the dogs lucky enough to know her personally. I'm sure many of them were waiting on the other side to greet her. We'll miss her so much!

Thoughts on Pagey, by Nini Bloch

I miss walking into that cozy, rambling house on River Road and hearing Pagey’s voice welcoming whoever’s at the door. There are many of Pagey’s traits that I admire, but her storytelling was at once one of the most entertaining and revealing about her character. It’s made me think about what it takes to be a good storyteller.

Pagey lived life well—she waded into it fearlessly, but she also was a keen observer of all life, whether it be a dog that was overreaching to compensate for some structural fault, or a pair of bluebirds starting to build a nest at the corner of the old lily field, or the discomfort of some soul who was beginning to doubt the dogma of the 30˚ shoulder layback. Good storytellers have to be able to engage and yet maintain a bit of detachment as they experience whatever life throws at them. Pagey’s wry New England humor stood her in good stead—as when she gave an entire presentation in Scandinavia propped up after she had broken her hip.

Pagey had an incredible ability to distill and learn from her experiences while keeping the details fresh in her memory. It’s what makes her autobiography ring so impassioned and true. I’m sure she came across as wise way before her time.

She also read and knew her varying audiences well. That takes empathy. And sometimes it takes courage to try out a story on people who could learn the most from it but may seem the least receptive. Pagey never seemed afraid. Good storytelling is a gift to the listener. Thanks, Pagey. You enriched my life so with your tales.

Nini

The first time I met Pagey…, by Sandy Cody

During the time I was president of ARFF (1996-1998), my strongest wish for the club was to find a better practice site. We were practicing on the hard-packed dirt of a church parking lot in Wayland where we had to pack and unpack equipment every time we wanted to practice. The space was adequate but tight and narrow.

In the Jan/Feb 1997 ARFF newsletter, I asked members to be on the lookout for a dream practice site. Not long after that, Janet Kennedy called me to tell me about a longtime friend from Carlisle with whom she shared a love of dogs. Janet told her friend about training her Irish Terrier Kevy to do agility at our classes in Wayland. Her friend was fascinated and wanted to try agility with her Golden Retriever Tammy, but since she was in her 80s, she didn’t want to drive that far.

Janet’s friend asked her if some club members might bring some equipment over to her farm and introduce her to agility. Janet made the call to me and within the hour I met the most wonderful person I have ever had the pleasure to know.

That was Rachel Page Elliott. From the outset, Pagey struck me as a kind, open person who welcomed me into her home as if she had known me for years. Janet and I had the most fantastic conversation with her—telling her all about our dogs and agility. We spoke about ARFF and she invited us to come to River Road Farm and use the upper pasture as our practice field for the next year and then we would see how it worked out. Well, ARFF is still at River Road Farm, and we thank Pagey for her generosity every day for that. ARFF has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Pagey and the entire Elliott family who have been so helpful in so many ways.

Pagey was the first student in our first classes at River Road Farm. Pagey and Tammy went on to earn their AKC Novice agility title.

I enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Pagey and her family. For me, going to River Road Farm was not just about going to practice agility, but to visit with a person who made me feel like family and allowed me to experience a bit of farm life that I had always dreamed about.

Pagey will always be in our hearts. We miss you…