My friend of 50 years, Joe Parano has died after a courageous battle against cancer.  Joe had the last word about Lucent in his self- written obituary copied below.  I just wanted to pass this along to lend some credence to retirees' perceived callousness of current day Lucent executives. It is this perception that causes the mistrust you can’t eliminate by spinning half the story in letters to retirees. That is why the LRO engages you in such open places such as the annual meeting and in the media. When Lucent executives insist on wearing targets on their backs, they will be shot at.

You, Frank, and others would be better served not appealing to your self inerests, board, analysts and the media with macho talk like “healthcare benefits are discretionary in 2007” and “our pension plans are well funded" when in fact management retirees affected know their pension plan is underfunded (it meets current ERISA funding requirements only). Recently, we have been told life insurance asset information cannot be provided because it would require staff time you just can’t spare.

You might suggest to your staff that LRO folks are online and in tune with everything publicly filed or stated and so are many retirees. LRO volunteers are experienced, and well educated, mostly management people, who know it is not staff time or money that is in the way. Don’t insult us.

So, if you perceive the LRO as opposing Lucent’s success, you are wrong. We offered to help with legislation, you refused; we offered to work to help lower healthcare costs, you refused. Challenge us and engage us if we can help but don’t ask us to play spin games.

Howard M. King

San Jose, CA