In Memoriam

Happy Birthday from us and the gnome.  Miss you.

This past month Madelyn has donated the proceeds from Jon’s Calendar to two organizations in the Pittsburgh area: Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium & City Mission

Dropping off the donations to Duane at the Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium where the money will be used to save corals and bring them back to the zoo.

Dropping off the donation to City Mission in Washington PA to help the homeless

Prudence Cote wrote a poem about her son who also took his life this past christmas and she wanted to share it with Jon.  Here is a link to the original post.

Lament

He is gone, He is gone!
How can this be so?
I cradled him in my arms
not so long ago.
Sang to him a lullaby
of mocking birds and night sky
taught him to tie his shoe
cross the loops, then pull one through
held his tiny hand in mine
with his brothers in a line
Searched and worried but had not wrath
When he went off the volksmarch path
Watched him on the stage with pride
He stood so straight hands at his side
Counseled him on matters of love
For him there was only ever one dove.
Gave comfort when from him she parted
Encouraged him on projects he started
Laughed when he took the name Thunder-Paws
After our fat little beast with such sharp claws
How can he be gone, My precious son?
He’s left me behind alone to go on.
It seems to get harder with each passing day,
to accept the fact he has gone away.

© Prudence Cote 2016

We’re happy to say that with all your donations and sales of Jon’s memorial calendar,  we raised over $1000 for NAMI Pennsylvania.  Your contributions will go to help others struggling with mental illness in our Pittsburgh region.

THANK YOU!

It’s a year to the day since Jon’s passing, and not a day goes by that I don’t think of or remember my friend in some way.  Whether it’s because of music, a game, an old photo… Jon left an indelible mark on my life, and so now I have all these great memories of Jon weighed against the fact that he’s gone.

My groomsmen; Jon far right

I don’t think there has ever been a person with such quiet, unexpected wisdom; Jon was just brimming with it.  He was as great a writing collaborator as he was a saltwater aquarist—and cook, and comedian, and friend.  An uncommon individual, through and through.

Seeing as our collective favorite pastimes were playing guitar and going to Phish concerts, Rusty and I thought it only fitting to send Jon off by playing one of his favorite Phish tunes for his memorial service last May.  Here’s a short clip of us playing “The Horse > Silent in the Morning” as we said goodbye to Jon Roehrig.

It’s time I sling the baskets off this overburdened horse…