I don't doubt that many of our readers have enjoyed Stephen Huneck's work: his sculptures and other dog art, and the mug he designed for Vermont Public Radio. I've never visited the dog chapel, but I have been to the gallery he used to operate on Martha's Vineyard. At our last visit to the Vineyard last summer the gallery was closed, possibly an indicator of the financial troubles he was facing.

The news today is that on Thursday Stephen Huneck, despondent about the financial setbacks his business had suffered, took his own life.

A letter from his wife, Gwen Huneck, recalls that  “On the last page of the 'Dog Chapel' book Stephen wrote 'you too can build a chapel, in a place that’s always open in your heart'.”