Jones Beach Bums Gone, but not Forgotten
Jeff
(Curtis) Kjellgren
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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
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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
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Danny
Calvangna
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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
didnt 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
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Gabrielle
"Gabby" Gottlieb
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"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
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Jimmy (Red)
Morrogh
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Hey bums, dont 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
hes lived since the 70s. 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
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Andrea
Botway
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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
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Peter
Maher
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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. |
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Alley
Rosen
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There will be a buffet and
cash bar
at Alley's memorial.
Please email Marilyn
if you will attend:
msbheart@optonline.net
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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
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Bobby
Vanderhall
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Bobby V clowning around at a
party
c. 1971
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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 |
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Uncle Scotty & Bobby
in 1991
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Bobby with his daugher
Melissa
& his wife Lynn in 2004
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Bobby at the 2009 Benefit Reunion
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Ronnie
Lancaster |
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At the beach c. 1972...at
a party c. 1974... |
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Ronnie & Joanne
at Uniondale Hotline, 1973 |
Ronnie with his daughters
Michelle and Jenny,
and two of his three grandchildren, Donovan and Davion
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Ronnie and Joanne
Lancaster, a love story for the ages,
with Jenny, the child born of their great love.
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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
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Tommy
Rackovitch |
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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
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Fred
Botway |
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
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Dave
Beechel |
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Bonnie
Roth |
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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
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Dave
Black |
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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.)
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Barely 21 years old, while hitchhiking
in Florida,
Dave was tragically hit by a car and killed.
Shari Fuller
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John Ohlrich
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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
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We
love you all, and wish you were still here... |
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If you have any pictures or memories
that you would like to share,
Please Click Here
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