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Jones Beach Bums Gone, but not Forgotten


Jeff (Curtis) Kjellgren
I met Jeff Kjellgren when I was home for summer break. Jeff needed help making his new van into a bubble van with a bed storage and music system. I said sure.
We bonded over those weeks as the van slowly came together into the Captain's Mothership that we all came to love.

After that, Jeff would stop off in Colorado every time he was close by. My family went camping with him in Zion, Bryce, Rocky Mountain. We hiked to the summit of Longs Peak twice, and failed many other times to do so.

Jeff was a creature of habit. Once he liked a place, he formed a routine around it. He went to Rainbow Gatherings for around 20 years. His alter ego Yeast Man will be forever remembered at the dinner circles. He loved Breckenridge and we skied there each winter for years until his knees and hip gave out.

Jeff did things his way. He'd listen patiently to alternatives, then do it his way. His music was from his heart and soul, and would always - except for occasional Led Zeppelin tunes - play his music, his way. It was, and always will be, a gift to the rest of us to listen to.
I cannot even begin to list the many many people this giving soul was an angel to. I'm sure we will all read and remember all the times he reached out to do many of us in need, or knew others in need.

He was the glue that bonded this group; his opening of his home to reunions and Winter gatherings kept us all in touch over the decades. If you needed a ride, he'd find one; if you needed a car repaired, he'd help you. If you needed a place to stay, he put you up. His efforts (and Shari's) are the reason we remain a large group of loving friends. He always posted a list of Bums who had passed on at our reunions…it will be a sad, sad time when we now add his name.

Jeff Kjellgren
Jeff Curtis
Captain of the Roads
Master of the Guitar
Keeper of the Yeast

and for me, he will always be:
The King of the Bums

David Title
January 2022

As 2021 quietly slips into memory tonight, we will remember those we lost this past year. We remember them because they had an influence in our life in some way.
No matter what you achieve in this life, somebody helped you - pay it forward!
And, as we wake up tomorrow in 2022, we should all be thankful, always and all ways, for every blessing in our lives, and make every effort to share our blessings with others.
Love God, be thankful for all His gifts, and be kind always!

Jeff Curtis Kjellgren
2/21/55 - 1/18/22

(Jeff's own eloquent words from
his Facebook page)


Jeff will beburied at:
Saint Joseph's Cemetery
145 Cemetery Rd
Richfield Springs, NY 13439
May 6th, 2022
1:00


Danny Calvangna

I look back to the time I spent with Danny (and Joe and the rest of Tarsus) as some of the best memories I have. Danny could always make us laugh, even when the band was booked to play a little wine and cheese bar in the Hamptons that didn’t want drums or amps! He was a master of sarcasm and yet never let things get him down. He was the perfect example of what it means to “never give up “. Danny kept performing his whole life until Covid took him down. To use an expression he would use: “Great job, Brother!”

Dave Mucci
July 2021

Gabrielle "Gabby" Gottlieb


"Bungle in the Jungle" was one of Gabby's favorite tunes back in the day and in a way, it was her theme song. Her life was a bit of a ride. She was out there every day in an achievement-oriented way, and she kept going regardless of what she ran into. She was a free-spirited woman with her own mind. Stubborn at times, health conscious and spiritual, she relentlessly pursued what she wanted and achieved success at whatever she set her sights on. She had multiple challenges in life that as a true Taurus, she bulled through. She loved having cats as pets and had a silly cat voice she used every now and again. She was sadly and violently taken from us while still in her prime. She lives on in blessed memory. ___ Harlan Sparer

Jimmy (Red) Morrogh

Hey bums, don’t like to share sad news but I just found out that our long time friend Jimmy (Red) Morrogh passed away July 2017 of smoke inhalation during a fire in his home in Virginia where he’s lived since the 70’s. Jummy was a quiet sensitive loyal friend who was close to John and Mike Ohlrich, Bob and Mike Mason just to name a few. He loved music and was a good guitarist. Till we meet again.

Frank VanBrunt   1/19

Andrea Botway
It is with much sadness even after almost a year that I write of the passing of Andrea Botway, (Andi Man). She of course came to be a JBB from watching the crazy antics of her older brother Fred.

Andrea absolutely loved life and fought against the cancer she had until the very end. She was fearless and very funny, as you all know. She came up with the craziest shit and dragged me (not too hard to do) into some funny adventurous things from the time I met her when Iwas 13. She was my big sister.

Her love of people but especially animals made her life better and her puppy Angel kept her alive and enjoying life until her sunset on Dec 15, 2017.

Julie Finnegan
December 2018

Peter Maher
Peter Maher, a beloved beach bum and an original member of our favorite band Tarsus, passed away suddenly and shockingly of a massive heart attack while living in Califonia.

Peter's Life Celebration:
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Village Pub in Lindenhurst
8:30 PM until the cows go home


There will be food and there are 3 bands lined up, plus an acoustic act to start the night.

Cynthia also put together a photo montage of Peter which will play in a loop all night.
Alley Rosen


There will be a buffet and cash bar
at Alley's memorial.

Please email Marilyn if you will attend:
msbheart@optonline.net

As many of you already know, one of our dearest beach bums, Alley Cat, passed away on Dec. 13, 2010, cause unknown. She died a peaceful death in her sleep, having spent the last few years of her life devoted to and caring for her elderly mother at her childhood home.

A MEMORIAL TO HONOR OUR SWEET ANGEL ALLEY ROSEN A DEAR FRIEND WHO WILL BE MISSED TERRIBLY, BUT WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH BETWEEN 1:00 PM AND 5:00 PM AT THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL 115 SOUTHERN PKWY IN PLAINVIEW NY. 516-931-7030 CALL IF YOU NEED DIRECTIONS.

THE MEMORIAL WAS SUCH A SUCCESS, ALLEY'S FAMILY WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE LOVE IN THE ROOM. On a sad note: I JUST GOT THE WORD THAT THE AUTOPSY RESULTS STATE ALLEY PASSED AWAY FROM MYOCARDITIS...WHICH IS AN INFECTION OF THE HEART MUSCLE...HEART ATTACK IN HER SLEEP. THE BURIEL SHOULD BE IN APRIL. I WILL CONFIRM THE DATE AND POST IT. PEACE TO EVERYONE.

Marilyn Brower
3/1/11

 

Bobby Vanderhall

Bobby V clowning around at a party
c. 1971

Bobby at a Plainview party in 1972
I can not put into words the sadness I feel with the passing of my dear friend Bobby. I will miss his smile. I will miss his kindness. I will miss his honesty. I will miss his love of life and family. I have thirty-eight years of wonderful memories to cherish for all my days. I was blessed to have him as my friend. Now Dave and Tommy get to renew their friendship with him. He will make Heaven a better place, just as he made Earth a better place. Anyone who knew Bobby and could call him a friend knows a nicer man didn't exist. We were all fortunate to have him as part of our lives.   
— Bobby Beechel   6/22/10

Uncle Scotty & Bobby in 1991

Bobby with his daugher Melissa
& his wife Lynn in 2004


Bobby at the 2009 Benefit Reunion
Ronnie Lancaster
 

At the beach c. 1972...at a party c. 1974...

Ronnie & Joanne at Uniondale Hotline, 1973

Ronnie with his daughters Michelle and Jenny,
and two of his three grandchildren, Donovan and Davion


Ronnie and Joanne Lancaster, a love story for the ages,
with Jenny, the child born of their great love.

 

Ronnie Lancaster passed away in early 2009 after losing a lengthy and valiant fight against liver disease. He left behind 2 daughters, three grandchildren, two brothers, his mom, many other loving relatives and friends, and a wife who had loved him since she was 15 years old. Ronnie was one of the most popular Beach Bums, and will always be deeply missed by all who knew and cherished his upbeat, generous, and gentle spirit.
Shari

Tommy Rackovitch
Tommy at a party Tommy at the beach
Tommy hanging out

Tommy was a limitless source of excitement, passion for living, and enthusiasm and was always one of the most popular Bums. He introduced us to all his friends including the Vanderhalls. Tommy loved the Beach Bums, and we all loved him. In June '72, Tommy and I hitchhiked all the way out to the Colorado Rockies together. (Mr. & Mrs. Rackovitch entrusted me to monitor his medicine and I was so grateful to them for their blessing for our trip) We camped in the mountains (and ran into Scotty Weiss) with hundreds of hippies from the Rainbow Family Of Living Light, who still exist today. There were other adventures we shared as fellow Montreal Maniacs. Tommy was one of the most sincere, trustworthy, decent people I have ever met, and I will never forget him. My condolences to his parents and family. May he rest in peace.

Uncle Scotty


"He was like my brother...To those who knew him, they truly saw his spirit and his courage."Pete the Freak

"I can't believe he's gone...what a great person he was. My condolences to his family."     Andy Gay

"To know Tommy, with his big heart, was to love him."    — Shari


Click here for more pictures of Tom

Tommy at the '91 reunion
recent Tommy
Fred Botway
Fred at a party             Fred Botway at the 1991 reunion

Fred (the Bed) Botway, one of the original Jones Beach Bums, passed away recently. One reason Fred will be remembered is that he would try anything, and we mean anything! There was never an adventure that Fred backed away from, including hanging from the scaffolding at Watkins Glen. His penchant for chemistry, his poetic meanderings, his nude photography, his parrot Taco and his many amorous adventures are some things Freddie was infamous for. Fred was part of United Mutations when he joined the Bums, along with Scott Weiss and Harlan Sparer... but Fred (and the UMs) were never quite the same when they met the Bums, and the Bums were never the quite the same as well.   Dave T (Mole)  2004

To see some childhood pictures of Fred, CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE to see more pictures of an older Fred

Dave Beechel
Dave Beechel at a party


Click here

to read about Dave Beechel
Bonnie Roth
Bonnie in her basement Bonnie at Shari's house
Bonnie at a party Bonnie laughing at a party
Bonnie Roth (Uncle Scotty's younger sister) was from Plainview, a sweet and gentle soul, highly intelligent, a good and loyal friend. Bonnie was also one of my best friends in high school (and beyond). After graduating near the top of her class, she went on to college and excelled in every subject she studied. Then during a visit to France she discovered a passion for cooking, so she studied further at the Culinary Institute in New York. Bonnie eventually became a chef, living and working around the country. Unfortunately, she was so busy that she didn't notice the signs of Hodgkin's Disease until it was too advanced to be cured. We lost Bonnie at the age of 29.

— Shari (Friedman) Fuller

Dave Black
Dave at a party Dave at a party
Dave Black in a high school classroom Dave was also a gentle, spiritual soul and a very free spirit. During high school, his parents split up and moved far away. The family of Mole (Dave Title) generously allowed Dave to stay with them so he could finish high school in Plainview (he eventually became one of my best friends too). Dave packed a lot of living into his youth, graduating early and then marrying at the tender age of 17. (There is a picture of Mike Seifert and me about to attend his wedding on the Miscellaneous photo gallery.)
Barely 21 years old, while hitchhiking in Florida,
Dave was tragically hit by a car and killed.   — Shari Fuller
John Ohlrich
John at the beach John at the park
John at a party John at the beach
John Ohlrich at Uniondale Hotline

The many faces of Johnny Ohlrich!

John was a lovable, high-spirited partier and huge fan of the Rolling Stones. John left us at the age of 17. While hitchhiking, he was struck by a car and killed, for the first time forcing our tight-knit group to face the sad reality that even a young, exuberant life could end in a shocking flash.

"...the day we heard that John O died (was) the first time I saw teenage boys cry."  
  Randi Crovets

 
   
We love you all, and wish you were still here...
   

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that you would like to share,

Please Click Here


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