Someone important died yesterday. Maybe not important to world peace, or an Oppenheimer discovery, or a Barbie doll epiphany—but important in ways that were much more meaningful to the people who knew him. Someone who had a memory that retained every single thing from the wallpaper of our high school lives. Someone whose values often moved him to passionate monologues. Someone with the kind of curious mind that puts
You know how you can tell a brilliant eulogy? When you really mourn the passing of someone you have never met, and it hurts to know they won't be here to make new, fabulous memories. You've created a piece of art in honor of your friend, who no doubt would have loved it and praised your beautiful writing. You have so many meaningful friendships, with so many interesting people. Your life has been and is so rich with...living! Makes the loss more poignant, I'm sure. But...how wonderful to have known him and called him a friend. Thanks for sharing him.
Chris. I am late to this unfortunate news. Your eulogy is beautiful and heartfelt. He was a great person in high school and a great man in life. Bill Hartmann
I saw your eulogy on the video of the service. Please let your family know I was sorry I couldn't be there... I smiled at how your vision of EJ mirrored my own. I'm so sorry for your loss. For all our loss... But he mattered and will be with me always. C.
Thank you for the wonderful eulogy. I met EJ at Vertical drop. 5 years ago.. He was the shop assistant. He helped customers. He helped me. We talked skiing for hours. I enjoyed our conversation tremendously. It was very clear from the start that he was very kind but back then, I never thought that he was a highly educated person with an impressive family history. Until his dad passed. I live in Bloomfield hills, so when a Bloomfield hills story appeared in Free Press, I was interested. I read about Dr. Levy, his life, his achievements, who he was and what he did and thought to myself, I wish I had met this bigger than life person who lived less than a mile from my house. Article talked about his son EJ but I did not think it was Vertical drop EJ.. until I saw the picture that you also have in you Eulogy... WHAT.. that is EJ!!!! our EJ!!!!. So my next trip to Vertical drop I mentioned that I read the Free Press article, and sorry for his dads passing ... next 2 hrs (it was a slow day at the shop) we talked about his family, his back ground. He was so impressed that I took my time reading the article about his dad. Our friendship took off after that. He would invite me to his bike rides and his bike oval.
It was an absolute shock to see his Funeral announcement on Facebook. I thought it was a hack.. a scam. It can't be.. No way.. But so sad to see him go.
Thanks you for your Eulogy. It painted EJ exactly as I had come to know him. I wish I had known him longer and even deeper. He was a type of a person that impacted you emotionally after the first conversation. I miss him already.
Thought-provoking tribute. I think you are/were both right. There is merit in looking at, investing in, and being mindful of the past, but not to dwell on it. The past should be one component of our present (and presence) in moving forward.
You know how you can tell a brilliant eulogy? When you really mourn the passing of someone you have never met, and it hurts to know they won't be here to make new, fabulous memories. You've created a piece of art in honor of your friend, who no doubt would have loved it and praised your beautiful writing. You have so many meaningful friendships, with so many interesting people. Your life has been and is so rich with...living! Makes the loss more poignant, I'm sure. But...how wonderful to have known him and called him a friend. Thanks for sharing him.
Chris. I am late to this unfortunate news. Your eulogy is beautiful and heartfelt. He was a great person in high school and a great man in life. Bill Hartmann
Oh, Chris--I am so sorry for your loss. E.J. sounds like a wonderful man, a true friend. Sending you comfort and love, Jamie
Chris, this eulogy is beautiful! Thank you so much for capturing the essence of EJ! He lived and cherished your friendship for 50+ years!
I saw your eulogy on the video of the service. Please let your family know I was sorry I couldn't be there... I smiled at how your vision of EJ mirrored my own. I'm so sorry for your loss. For all our loss... But he mattered and will be with me always. C.
Thank you for the wonderful eulogy. I met EJ at Vertical drop. 5 years ago.. He was the shop assistant. He helped customers. He helped me. We talked skiing for hours. I enjoyed our conversation tremendously. It was very clear from the start that he was very kind but back then, I never thought that he was a highly educated person with an impressive family history. Until his dad passed. I live in Bloomfield hills, so when a Bloomfield hills story appeared in Free Press, I was interested. I read about Dr. Levy, his life, his achievements, who he was and what he did and thought to myself, I wish I had met this bigger than life person who lived less than a mile from my house. Article talked about his son EJ but I did not think it was Vertical drop EJ.. until I saw the picture that you also have in you Eulogy... WHAT.. that is EJ!!!! our EJ!!!!. So my next trip to Vertical drop I mentioned that I read the Free Press article, and sorry for his dads passing ... next 2 hrs (it was a slow day at the shop) we talked about his family, his back ground. He was so impressed that I took my time reading the article about his dad. Our friendship took off after that. He would invite me to his bike rides and his bike oval.
It was an absolute shock to see his Funeral announcement on Facebook. I thought it was a hack.. a scam. It can't be.. No way.. But so sad to see him go.
Thanks you for your Eulogy. It painted EJ exactly as I had come to know him. I wish I had known him longer and even deeper. He was a type of a person that impacted you emotionally after the first conversation. I miss him already.
Thought-provoking tribute. I think you are/were both right. There is merit in looking at, investing in, and being mindful of the past, but not to dwell on it. The past should be one component of our present (and presence) in moving forward.
Chris, So beautifully written! I'm in tears! I will miss EJ!! Thank you,
Jan Carrier Schilling