Memorial Activities
UPDATED Thursday, September 6, 2007:
We'll hold memorial activities in San Francisco for Jane on Sunday, September 9, 2007. There will be three events; you're invited to participate in any or all of them:
1) A hike, for those who are interested and able, will start at the flagpole at Upper Fort Mason beginning at 10:00 a.m. We'll walk along the bayshore toward the Golden Gate Bridge for about 45 minutes, then turn and retrace our path for a total of about four miles. The path is paved and mostly flat, but it can be windy and tiring. The route will take us past dozens of places that held meaning for Jane, including the Building 201, the Hosteling International (formerly AYH) Hostel, the community garden, Greens Restaurant, Alcatraz, the Marina, the Exploratorium, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Crissy Field. You'll also see the Presidio, Fort Point, and the bridge itself. There'll be plenty of time to talk and remember while we admire these beautiful places. Wear good walking shoes and carry a light jacket (at least), because it can get windy and chilly. (Please check for a weather report that morning.) A snack will be waiting at the hike's conclusion.
2) A service in the Fort Mason Chapel will begin at noon. The centerpiece of this event will be a chance for everyone to share memories of Jane. Also, if you have a poem, reading, or song to share, you're welcome to do so -- just let us know. (We'll have a keyboard and microphone.) If you cannot attend, please consider sending a message to be read aloud. Email it to Fred or post it below in the comments, labeled as "Please read at Jane's memorial." Dress is casual, since many of us will have just finished a long walk. The Chapel is not ADA compliant, and there are a few stairs leading into it, so please plan accordingly.
3) A pot-luck gathering will follow the service at 1 Fort Mason, the Officers' Club near the Chapel. Kathy Catanho will be coordinating the potluck; if you'd like to help provide food, please email her by mid-day Saturday at kcatanho@pacbell.net, including the words "Jane's memorial" in the subject line. Please do not bring alcohol. There will be a guestbook to sign, a continuously running slide show to watch, music from Jane's iPod playing, a lawn for kids to play on, and views that will take your breath away.
PLEASE CARPOOL if possible.
DIRECTIONS: Fort Mason is at the foot of Franklin Street in San Francisco. It is not in the Presidio and not in Golden Gate Park. The Chapel and Officers Club are not at Fort Mason Center, which is where the piers are by the Marina Safeway (though you can park there). Please check the links at right for maps and online directions.
PARKING: Your best bet is the lot by Building 102. Please download and bring the Map of Fort Mason linked at right. Additional parking (for a fee) is in Fort Mason Center, but note that you'll have a ten-minute uphill walk to the chapel from there. Disabled parking spots can be found scattered throughout Fort Mason.
We'll hold memorial activities in San Francisco for Jane on Sunday, September 9, 2007. There will be three events; you're invited to participate in any or all of them:
1) A hike, for those who are interested and able, will start at the flagpole at Upper Fort Mason beginning at 10:00 a.m. We'll walk along the bayshore toward the Golden Gate Bridge for about 45 minutes, then turn and retrace our path for a total of about four miles. The path is paved and mostly flat, but it can be windy and tiring. The route will take us past dozens of places that held meaning for Jane, including the Building 201, the Hosteling International (formerly AYH) Hostel, the community garden, Greens Restaurant, Alcatraz, the Marina, the Exploratorium, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Crissy Field. You'll also see the Presidio, Fort Point, and the bridge itself. There'll be plenty of time to talk and remember while we admire these beautiful places. Wear good walking shoes and carry a light jacket (at least), because it can get windy and chilly. (Please check for a weather report that morning.) A snack will be waiting at the hike's conclusion.
2) A service in the Fort Mason Chapel will begin at noon. The centerpiece of this event will be a chance for everyone to share memories of Jane. Also, if you have a poem, reading, or song to share, you're welcome to do so -- just let us know. (We'll have a keyboard and microphone.) If you cannot attend, please consider sending a message to be read aloud. Email it to Fred or post it below in the comments, labeled as "Please read at Jane's memorial." Dress is casual, since many of us will have just finished a long walk. The Chapel is not ADA compliant, and there are a few stairs leading into it, so please plan accordingly.
3) A pot-luck gathering will follow the service at 1 Fort Mason, the Officers' Club near the Chapel. Kathy Catanho will be coordinating the potluck; if you'd like to help provide food, please email her by mid-day Saturday at kcatanho@pacbell.net, including the words "Jane's memorial" in the subject line. Please do not bring alcohol. There will be a guestbook to sign, a continuously running slide show to watch, music from Jane's iPod playing, a lawn for kids to play on, and views that will take your breath away.
PLEASE CARPOOL if possible.
DIRECTIONS: Fort Mason is at the foot of Franklin Street in San Francisco. It is not in the Presidio and not in Golden Gate Park. The Chapel and Officers Club are not at Fort Mason Center, which is where the piers are by the Marina Safeway (though you can park there). Please check the links at right for maps and online directions.
PARKING: Your best bet is the lot by Building 102. Please download and bring the Map of Fort Mason linked at right. Additional parking (for a fee) is in Fort Mason Center, but note that you'll have a ten-minute uphill walk to the chapel from there. Disabled parking spots can be found scattered throughout Fort Mason.
1 Comments:
I didn’t know Jane very well. My experiences with her were primarily chatting after a Castro Valley Community Band Concert or a few occasions where we were at some social gathering somewhere, hers and Fred’s home for a Christmas open house early in their marriage in which a number of stations were available for guests to participate in making things related to the holidays – clove studded oranges for decorations – things like that. Another occasion was to celebrate her fortieth birthday, a celebration of her life and the latest social occasion at our home for my husband’s sixtieth birthday last May. Still I just loved her, loved being around her. What was it about her that drew me to her. Many things. She possessed some glorious, vibrant, enthusiastic energy that radiated from her and infused those with whom she came into contact so that they came away exhilarated and inspired. She always seemed to me to be fully present, to be interested in being with whoever was there with whatever was happening, to be palpably joyful at being alive. She was curious about conversing with people about an infinite number of things. Whatever was said, she had a perceptive, thoughtful, often amused response. Not long ago we had a stimulating conversation about her art projects, welding in particular. Shortly before that she talked about making floating islands flavored with rose petals – such an exotic and unique interpretation of this classic elegant desert. From one perspective, she lived a short life, too short I would say. Still, she lived a very rich and very full life. There are people I have met that I put on a list of “Those who should live forever”. One of them is my flute teacher Frances Blaisdell who is 95 and who shares Jane’s qualities of a zest for living, and interest in others, an aware presence and an unflappable responsiveness. Jane is on that list as well not only for what she took from life and living but what she brought too it and her ability to inspire and enliven.
There is a Latin phrase, causa sui, meaning one creates oneself. Jane created a magnificent, lovely, luscious, creative, vibrant being. Who could ask for more. I am very sorry she left this planet so soon. I am very sorry that that first renegade cell in her wonderful brain betrayed her her and that she had to suffer through the process that took her life although even in that she was resilient, creative, fully participating. I am also very grateful to have known her even in the limited capacity I did. The gift of her being in my life is a treasure to me.
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