Jeff Rosen June 9, 1958 – March 17, 2009
Jeff was a warm, loving and generous man. His life centered on his family and friends, whom he adored. Melissa was the love of his life and soulmate for 33 years. He loved his work; it was important to him to help others pursue justice. He was passionate about music and sports. Go Giants!! Some of Jeff’s favorite times were spent in the green chairs at Tuolumne Family Camp, rocking out at concerts, visiting family and friends around the country, getting together for sing-alongs, and participating in activities with his children. Jeff touched all of our lives in so many ways. He will remain in our hearts always.
“River gonna to take me,
sing me sweet and sleepy,
sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back home.
It’s a far gone lullaby,
sung many years ago.
Mama, mama, many worlds I’ve come since I first left home.
Goin’ home, goin’ home, by the waterside I will rest my bones,
listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul.”
sing me sweet and sleepy,
sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back home.
It’s a far gone lullaby,
sung many years ago.
Mama, mama, many worlds I’ve come since I first left home.
Goin’ home, goin’ home, by the waterside I will rest my bones,
listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul.”
From "Brokedown Palace"
-- Hunter/Garcia
-- Hunter/Garcia
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
DANNY ROSEN'S EULOGY TO JEFF AT THE FUNERAL
It is difficult for me to stand here today. I know there is no meaning in what has taken place. These are the cards that we drew, and as Jeff taught me, you play the cards that you were dealt. I am angry that as wonderful a life as my brother lived that there was so much more he wanted to accomplish. I find it hard to reflect on his life without feeling that he was cheated and that those of us who knew him and loved him were also cheated.
Melissa, my mother, and I have been overwhelmed by the support and love that our family, friends, and community have shown us this past year. From New York, to Pittsburgh, to here in Berkeley people have shown us that even in our darkest hours, we do not stand-alone. While we did not need this tragedy to confirm the generosity of spirit of those who sustained us this past year, we are thankful to those in this room and those who cannot be here today for standing by our side.
I know you have heard a lot about Jeff today, but I briefly want to give you the little brother’s perspective. I was blessed with two older brothers who were years enough ahead that they looked out for me, taught me, and made sure that I had a good time. Jeff showed me how to shoot a lay up, took me to my first rock concert (yes, of course it was the Grateful Dead), and slept out for Yankee playoff tickets with me. All this was intermingled with trips to Carvel for ice cream, packs of baseball cards, and hours of catch and shooting baskets. Hearing this I guess you can understand how devastated I was at the age of ten when we dropped off Jeff in Binghamton for college. In an attempt to console me, my parents stopped in Cooperstown, and the story goes that I cried so hard during our time at the Baseball Hall of Fame that we had to return the next day so I could see everything.
As I got older and the years between us mattered less, Jeff never stopped teaching me, looking out for me, and making sure that I had a real good time. He was my own private legal counsel, tech consultant, sounding board for life decisions, and my buddy for numerous sporting events and many, many, many more Dead shows. All this intermingled with vacations, family gatherings, bragging about our children, and packages that would arrive filled with newspaper clippings and music that I just had to listen to. I am pretty sure that I am the only person in Pittsburgh who has all 15 Volumes of KFOG’s Live from the Archives.
Jeff was the last person who called me by my childhood nickname, knew what it meant to be raised in the house we grew up in, and was the only person who I could spend four innings of a west coast Giants game on the phone with talking about nothing. Maybe my anger is at knowing those holes will never be filled.
Sammy and Emmy. I know from speaking with you and reading your thoughts about your dad that you recognize what a gift it was to have your dad in your life. You also should never forget what a gift the two of you were to your dad. He was fiercely proud of both you and the young people that he saw you turning into. Remember that he is still with you and will help to guide you as you move forward with your lives.
Liss. While you know I hate to admit this, it is hard for me to remember a time in my life when you were not around. I was in awe of the love that you and Jeff shared and the lives you built together. We are a strong family and we will, somehow, get through this together.
Mom. We have been through a lifetime this past year. The unfairness of what has occurred has, I think, taken a tremendous amount from both of us. Please know that I love you and you have a wonderful support group around you. I am not sure what the other side of all this looks likes, but we will get there.
This is the first time that I have ever spoken in public without Jeff editing and giving his input on what I was going to say. I hated seeing the pain that Jeff was in these past 14 months. Jeff was always taking care of others and concerned about everyone else. Even in his last days we saw him unable to let go until all the people he loved and cared for were together and taking care of each other. This past year, Jeff always chose to take less pain medicine thus, choosing to stay connected rather than be out of it with the medication. I only pray that now he has some peace, and knows that we are still connected to him and miss him already.
Post a Comment