February 22nd, 2005
February 22, 2005
The Memorial Service was beautiful. We had around 120-130 people there (the funeral director’s estimate) and a HUGE turnout at the reception afterwards. My older brother flew in from Chicago, and one of Jack’s Internet buddies flew in from Detroit (I was gobsmacked), and there were a few people from Philly/New Jersey (as well as cousins from Norfolk) but most folks were Baltiwash fandom. Or gafiated fandom.
I didn’t see anyone from work other than the minister, who did a great job. My former coworker from Computer Sciences, Warren, showed up but I only saw him briefly. I’m so happy he was there. It’s possible since I went and sat down with the mourners several minutes before the ceremony (and before my sibs got there!)(And I never want to hear another family joke about Eva being late ever again) and there were huge crowds around me all evening, that people WERE there and I never saw them.
I especially want to thank my coworker, Rev. Reginald Pouncy, his crew, my friend of a friend Sherry, who sings like an angel and who I now consider my friend, Mike Walsh, Chuck Miller, Mark Owings, my nephew Chris (father to the 4 most adorable children in the world), and to my wonderful sons, David and Steven. The smartest thing I ever did was have children.
We had a miscommunication with the funeral director on the internment, and Jack won’t actually be buried for several days and when the Roaring Bull starts running in the spring I’ll organize a little trip to Liverpool to toss part of Jack’s ashes off the ferry to make their way, eventually, to the Chesapeake Bay. Email me if you’d like to be a part of either of these events.
For now, the ashes are going to be stored in Jack’s office, under the photo montage Dave and his Kinko cronies made for the funeral (which was just breathtaking). Dave did a fabulous job with the programs, and we may have some left over. If you’d like one, send an Florafox.com, Germany and we’ll send you one.