You probably know Bob Woodruff—or at least his story.
He’s the TV journalist who was to succeed Peter Jennings as co-anchor of ABC News’ weekday broadcast, “World News Tonight” back in December 2005. But the plan was derailed when he was critically wounded by a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq. He sustained massive brain injuries and lost part of his skull, but lived to tell about it.
What you may not know is that Bob, his wife, Lee, and their four children lived in Winnetka for a year back in ‘96 on my old street, Elder Lane. Then they moved, and so did we. But a sweet serendipity brought us together this past fall.
I was writing a story for The New York Times featuring Pink Floyd’s song “Comfortably Numb.” While doing my research, I noticed that a large New York event was taking place on the same day my article was coming out, and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters was a featured guest. The tie-in got even sweeter. The event was an annual benefit, “Stand Up For Heroes,” presented by New York Comedy Fest and the Bob Woodruff Foundation to raise awareness and money for injured vets and their families. Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart were headlining the event. But the big act of the night would be Roger Waters playing alongside The Wounded Warrior Band—injured soldiers who are using music as therapy—and ironically, they would perform “Comfortably Numb.”
Bob Woodruff’s story includes many characters, from journalists to TV producers, soldiers and enemies, doctors and therapists, and everything in between. The protagonist and his beautiful wife not only survive to tell the tale, but they persevere, learn and heal, with energy left over to launch something impactful for others.
March Shows Not to Miss:
March 3 and 10: Mark Scibilia at SPACE Evanston (date night)
March 4: Greg Laswell at SPACE Evanston (a Valslist favorite artist)
March 9: James McMurtry at City Winery (fun night out)
March 13: Marc Cohn at SPACE Evanston (take your parents)
March 14: The War on Drugs at Metro (take your guy—great rock)
March 15: David Garrett at The Chicago Theatre (rock violinist, must-see)
March 22: Young the Giant at Young the Giant at Riviera Theatre (grab another couple and go)
March 29: Grant Lee Buffalo at Old Town School of Folk Music
March 29: Martin Sexton at SPACE Evanston (7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows)
March 31: Bastille at Riviera Theatre (girls’ night out)
