The Times caption today says:

Stanley Kauffmann, Erudite Film Critic,

Dies at 97

True, but erudite is only part of the story.

Stanley Kauffmann was joyful, compassionate, acutely self-aware, and one heck of a lot of fun to be around.

Most importantly – to me, at least – he was a student and critic of film whose erudition never got in the way of the plain old joy and whimsy with which he approached the art form. He was never ashamed to enjoy hokum, but it did have to be exquisite, thoughtful hokum.

Stanley Kauffman —  a sterling model of how to live a full, joy-filled, intellectually-engaged life.

Dim the lights.