A celebration of John’s life was held at the Miraloma Park Club House on Saturday, August 27.
We are grateful to Jon Mendle for the music and to Merrin Clough who officiated so beautifully.
Teacher, peace activist and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh once said “Please do not build a stupa for me. Please do not put my ashes in a vase, lock me inside, and limit who I am. I know this will be difficult for some of you. If you must build a stupa though, please make sure that you put a sign on it that says, ‘I am not in here.’ In addition, you can also put another sign that says, ‘I am not out there either,’ and a third sign that says, ‘If I am anywhere, it is in your mindful breathing and in your peaceful steps.’”
Readings
John enjoyed Billy Collins. While the poem we chose was probably an unusual selection for a memorial service, we found it suitably irreverent.
The Revenant
(From The Trouble with Poetry, by Billy Collins)
I am the dog you put to sleep, as you like to call the needle of oblivion, come back to tell you this simple thing: I never liked you–not one bit. When I licked your face, I thought of biting off your nose. When I watched you toweling yourself dry, I wanted to leap and unman you with a snap. I resented the way you moved, your lack of animal grace, the way you would sit in a chair to eat, a napkin on your lap, knife in your hand. I would have run away, but I was too weak, a trick you taught me while I was learning to sit and heel, and–greatest of insults–shake hands without a hand. I admit the sight of the leash would excite me but only because it meant I was about to smell things you had never touched. You do not want to believe this, but I have no reason to lie. I hated the car, the rubber toys, disliked your friends and, worse, your relatives. The jingling of my tags drove me mad. You always scratched me in the wrong place. All I ever wanted from you was food and fresh water in my metal bowls. While you slept, I watched you breathe as the moon rose in the sky. It took all of my strength not to raise my head and howl. Now I am free of the collar, the yellow raincoat, monogrammed sweater, the absurdity of your lawn, and that is all you need to know about this place except what you already supposed and are glad it did not happen sooner– that everyone here can read and write, the dogs in poetry, the cats and the others in prose.
Do not go gentle into that good night
(Dylan Thomas – 1914-1953)
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Writing Poetry at Edinburgh Airport (Manjusvara, 1953-2011)
Li Po said: ‘To read poetry is to be alive twice.’
At the airport it is easier to see how everyone is equal.
There is only one human story: it ends in leaving
Yes I will attend the celebration – Cher delaMere. It was wonderful lto see the whole family in photos and know what a rich life you all shared. /Thanks
I will be honored to attend the celebration.
Thank you, Pat Wong
I will be attending. I always think of John helping out during our quilt shows and helping me when my husband was ill. He will be missed.
I will be attending.
Julie Duerksen
Dear Adrienne and Family,
So sorry to hear of John’s health issues and his passing. Lloyd & I would like to attend his services.
Our parallel paths at the Unitarian church, Laurel Hill & Claire Lilienthal Elementary School gave us a supportive & kind community.
Kind Regards from all of us,
Lloyd, Gibran & Devon Rath and Erica Esmail-Rath
Steve, Jasper and I will be attending. Love, Ana
Mark and Donna Rand will attend. In addition to being a great help at set up and take down of the SFQG quilt shows, John also made and delivered our lunch when we had our pre-pandemic Community Outreach sewing sessions at the Police Academy. What a guy!
I will be attending
I will be attending
I won’t be able to attend. But you both will be in my thoughts for a long time.
Dee
I already replied that I will attend. This is to let you know that Martha Schwarz will be attending with me.
Julie
I will be attending.
Hello!
My mom(Vanna), and I will be there💗.
I will be attending.
I will be attending. John was always an outspoken and delightful attorney and friend at our office at SFNLAF, handling a full caseload and discussing his cases with the other attorneys, as well as socializing fully at our lawyers luncheons in the years afterwards. My wife Patti Lee handled cases with John in SF Juvenile court and describes a case they won, where he was an “amazing co-counsel”.
He will be sorely missed.
I will be attending.
Silvia and I will be there
I will be attending.
I will be attending.
Valerie Lienkaemper
I will be attending.
Steve will attend.
I will attend.
I will attend.
I will attend to celebrate the extraordinary man. If we can find a babysitter my wife will accompany me.
Kathy and I will attend. John was a beloved Joost Avenue neighbor.
I will attend on behalf of the Bar Association of San Francisco
We will be attending.
Onyia, Matt, Amaya and Eli Pemberton will be attending.
I will attend.
I will attend.
I will be there.
Caitlin and I will be there. Alma may too, but I’m not sure yet.
Cecily & I would like to join you for this celebration of a good man’s life.
John was a wonderful man. I’ll be there.
John touched the hearts of so many Sutro Stewards volunteers and generations of staff, he was one individual who inspired many others to return to volunteer again and again. He will be missed but remembered in our hearts for all of his contributions, his endless enthusiasm, his kind and selfless spirit, and as our ray of sunshine on a foggy morning.