Studs Terkel, a genuine giant in the field of being human, has died at 96.

Garrison Keillor wrote about a visit to Terkel last July, and speculated that he wanted to make it to the election.

As he left Terkel’s home, Keillor says, Terkel offered this “benediction”:

Every night when the sun goes down

I say a blessing on this town:

“Whether we last the night or no,

Life has always been touch and go.

So stick with your modus operandi.

Ingenuity! Guile! Art! Good luck. Good bye.”