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Commentary
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Dear friends: Jeff's memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m. at the Toale Brothers Funeral Home-Colony Chapel, 40 N. Orange Avenue, a half-block north of Main Street downtown Sarasota. The family wanted this to be a "celebration of Jeff's life." They asked that no flowers be sent. ((In lieu of flowers, Nan has suggested that contributions may be made to the Pines Foundation 941-365-0250 and ask for Betty Lou.)) USF is setting up some type of scholarship for Jeff and it has also been suggested that STNY set up a scholarship for a HHS student via the school's foundation. The service was attended by family, faculty colleagues, former students, and high school classmates.. There was standing room only. A fitting tribute to the high regard in which Jeff was held in the community and by everyone who had the honor of knowing him. Many people spoke of the incredible influence Jeff had on there lives. It was noted that as a husband, father, teacher, and now the author of textbook, The Gerontologist as an Administrator, Jeff's influence will be felt far into the future. After the service, Nan, Nique and Ted have invited family and friends to join them for dinner at Michael's On East restaurant, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nique said that the family still plans the "Big Chill" day, probably for sometime in March. |
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John Burkowski's Comments At Jeff Giordano's
Memorial I didn't use notes during my comments at the memorial service for Jeff.This, to the best of my memory, is what I said: "I didn't know Jeff Giordano for as long as many of his classmates here today. I'm a Yankee and transferred to Hialeah High School in the ninth grade. However, from that time on Jeff and I experienced many rites of passage together. After graduating from Hialeah High in 1960, we attended Miami-Dade Community College that same year. It was MDCC's first year of existence. In the second year, Jeff, other HHS grads, and I established a fraternity on campus, Sigma Phi Upsilon. After MDCC, Jeff, Jerry Greene, and I joined the Army. Kenna mentioned that experience in her comments, but left out the part describing how we returned from basic. My knee was in a cast, Jerry had pneumonia, and Jeff had smashed his finger in the bolt action of his M-1 -- and we never even met the enemy! Following the Army, Jeff and I struggled to save money to enroll into FSU. We shared rent and lived on nickels and dimes and sometimes less. Jeff and I finally made it to FSU and, along with Ed Lewis, rented a three bedroom, one bath house across from the FSU football stadium. Within one semester we doubled the population of the house. Eddie and I got married and Jeff met Nan. It was the best of times. Later, I had the honor of being the best man at Jeff and Nan's wedding. Jeff and Im stayed in constant contact thanks to the internet. I was born Catholic, went to parochial school, and read Frank McCourt's books, so I believe in Heaven. I don't know about Jeff, but with his goodness and decency it won't matter. They'll draft him anyway. That will give guys like me and Jerry some degree of optimism about our chances of joining Jeff. Jeff had many skills and among them was a terrific ability to negotiate. With Jeff putting in a word for us we should be all right. I can see it now: Jeff standing next to St. Peter holding a clipboard (in my heart and mind Jeff will always own the clipboard) as he fills the role of "Chief Consultant to St. Peter". And you know those clouds will be organized. A cynic once told me there was no such thing as a truly altruistic person. I realized the only thing I knew about that cynic was that he had never met Jeff. The most important influence Jeff provided me was inspiration. As mentioned by Kenna, Jeff struggled academically while in high school and yet became a Ph.D and authored a book. When I would feel depressed or feeling sorry for myself, I could just think about Jeff and his incredible will to succeed. Time or distance didn't matter, just the thought of Jeff would give me the inspiration to overcome difficulties and obstacles. I loved, admired, and respected Jeff Giordano and I'm going to miss him very, very much." |
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Kenna and I spent Friday and Saturday with Nan sharing hugs, tears, and laughter, along with memories of Jeff. I want to thank Nan from the depth of my heart for her courage, love, and generosity. And I want to share with you all some of the things I learned. I learned that Jeff touched many more lives than any of us could imagine. I knew him well, and love him deeply, but I was moved beyond words by the stories I heard of all the ways in which his gigantic heart and generous spirit had reached out to so many people. He truly changed the world simply by caring enough. Knowing him as I did, that fact didn't surprise me, but it did humble me and reinforce some basic truth for me. The truth that nothing matters more than how we, person by person, reach out to one another with love. Friday night Nan, along with Ted and Nique, and Kenna and I spent hours talking about the boy and how he grew. It was wonderful to look up and see so much of him in Ted and Nique. Jeff will always be with me, he's woven into the tapestry of my life with golden threads. Phil says we should never let a chance go by to tell those we love how much they mean to us. You guys mean the world to me, and I love you all. Shahnda Diane |
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Although I knew Jeff slightly in high school, it has really been through STNY that I feel I've truly gotten to know him. Jeff had the unique gift, among many, of knowing that loving friendships are to be cherished and must be nurtured. In the last eight months of his life we shared wonderful time on four occasions: STNY in June; Jo-Dee and I visiting Nan and Jeff in their Italian villa last Fall; Jeff visiting us in Miami and touring Star Styled's factory later in the Fall; and finally, all of us meeting in Maitland for Jeanne's wedding on 1/1/01. We call that damned fortunate given the fact that we lived 240 miles apart! To me Jeff will always be the Godfather (with the clipboard) of STNY. Walk with light |